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Blind Tasting Battle of New vs Old World Chardonnays [2010 Vintage]
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Tasted August 25, 2013 by Average Wine Guy (MH) with 283 views
Introduction
The flight consists of a good mix of New vs Old world Chardonnays from prime regions ...
- Napa Valley,USA
- Margaret River, Australia
- Chablis, France
- Pouilly-Fuisse (Burgundy), France
The styles ranged from oaked to unoaked. Very interesting experience, with the VERY unexpected winner base on consensus..
... The 2010 Devil's Lair Chardonnay from Margaret River, Australia for its expansive flavours before a skilful acidity that brings it all back together with a mineral end. Super impressive - immediately contacted the merchant to get several bottles as soon as the wine was revealed.
Flight 1 (4 notes)
White
2010 François Raveneau Chablis
90 points
Opened 2 hours before serving, drank over 3-4 hours.
The 2010 François Raveneau Chablis is medium lemon n colour with a nose of fresh flowers and apricots, lemons and almost underlying green apples. On the palate, an initial entry of sweetness followed by strong stone fruits with honeydew and apricots on the mid palate. Acidity kicks up a little towards the end. The palate displays light gentle fruits with expressive acidity showing minerality and almost sea-shell like on the finish. Clean and refreshing.
Very steady improvement and improved weight over time. Impressive.
The 2010 François Raveneau Chablis is medium lemon n colour with a nose of fresh flowers and apricots, lemons and almost underlying green apples. On the palate, an initial entry of sweetness followed by strong stone fruits with honeydew and apricots on the mid palate. Acidity kicks up a little towards the end. The palate displays light gentle fruits with expressive acidity showing minerality and almost sea-shell like on the finish. Clean and refreshing.
Very steady improvement and improved weight over time. Impressive.
White
2010 Devil's Lair Chardonnay
92 points
Opened 2 hours before pouring, drank over the next 5 hours.
The 2010 Devil's Lair Chardonnay is medium (-) pale lemon in colour with a very wholesome nose of toasted nuts, butter, stone fruits (predominantly apricots), lemon, lime and toffee. On the palate, an initial oiliness that broadens on the middle palate that expands and coat the entire palate with butteriness, stone fruit flavours of apricots and honeydew.
The skilful acidity slowly kicks in and cleans up the big mouthful and puts the wine back together on a long, lingering, mineral finish. Very impressive with the spectacular transition of flavours that is almost unbelievable. The acidity really keeps it alive from start to end. Brilliant nose, and absolutely captivating palate.
The 2010 Devil's Lair Chardonnay is medium (-) pale lemon in colour with a very wholesome nose of toasted nuts, butter, stone fruits (predominantly apricots), lemon, lime and toffee. On the palate, an initial oiliness that broadens on the middle palate that expands and coat the entire palate with butteriness, stone fruit flavours of apricots and honeydew.
The skilful acidity slowly kicks in and cleans up the big mouthful and puts the wine back together on a long, lingering, mineral finish. Very impressive with the spectacular transition of flavours that is almost unbelievable. The acidity really keeps it alive from start to end. Brilliant nose, and absolutely captivating palate.
White
2010 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay
88 points
Opened 2 hours before pouring, drank over 6 hours.
The 2010 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay didn't quite stand out amongst its competitors of the flight. Medium lemon in colour with a nose of chalk, and dense peaches, pears, citrus and underlying white flowers. On the palate, an initial frontal flavours of peaches before it plateaus on a mid palate with accompanying honeysuckle flavours. The mid-end palate displays a good butteriness before acidity steps in. The wine ends or a rising acidity, turning a little too harsh towards the end.
The wine definitely has got some good structure going, but lacks an integration of acidity that might affect the balance a little. Over time, acidity calms down a little but definitely still has an overpowering prominence at the end.
The 2010 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay didn't quite stand out amongst its competitors of the flight. Medium lemon in colour with a nose of chalk, and dense peaches, pears, citrus and underlying white flowers. On the palate, an initial frontal flavours of peaches before it plateaus on a mid palate with accompanying honeysuckle flavours. The mid-end palate displays a good butteriness before acidity steps in. The wine ends or a rising acidity, turning a little too harsh towards the end.
The wine definitely has got some good structure going, but lacks an integration of acidity that might affect the balance a little. Over time, acidity calms down a little but definitely still has an overpowering prominence at the end.
White
2010 Jean-Jacques Vincent Pouilly-Fuissé Château de Fuissé Vieilles Vignes
90 points
Opened 2 hours before pour and drank over 6 hours.
The 2010 Château de Fuisse Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes is medium gold in colour with a woody nose of lemon and grapefruits. The nose is dense but still conservative and not frontal at all. The oaky palate begins with an initial entry of slight spice before progressing to rich woodiness on the mid palate alongside grapefruit, orange peel, lemon and lime. A medium-bodied and rich wine that is well-structured, concentrated but not overwhelmingly frontal. Medium finish with acidity coming up towards the end which prolongs it beautifully. Very consistent over time with air. Definitely years ahead.
The 2010 Château de Fuisse Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes is medium gold in colour with a woody nose of lemon and grapefruits. The nose is dense but still conservative and not frontal at all. The oaky palate begins with an initial entry of slight spice before progressing to rich woodiness on the mid palate alongside grapefruit, orange peel, lemon and lime. A medium-bodied and rich wine that is well-structured, concentrated but not overwhelmingly frontal. Medium finish with acidity coming up towards the end which prolongs it beautifully. Very consistent over time with air. Definitely years ahead.