Interesting, Serge. I’ve tried the chardonnay from Catena Alta once -the 2002 Catena Alta Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina which came out first place in an IWFS blind tasting (held on 24th January 2008; no food during tasting, just bread and water) of 10 chardonnays. The entire line-up was as follows (in no particular order):
2005 Domaine Robert Denogent Pouilly Fuissé “Les Reisses” VV, France
2005 Domaine Laroche Chablis Premier Cru “Les Fourchaumes” VV, France
2004 Comte Lafon Macon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four, France
2002 Catena Alta Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina
2004 Petaluma Chardonnay Picadilly Valley, Australia
2004 Leewin Estate Chardonnay “Art Series”, Margaret River, Australia
2005 Seresin Chardonnay Reserve, Marlborough, New Zealand
2004 Franciscan Oakville Estate “Cuvée Sauvage”, Carneros, Napa Valley
2004 Saintsbury “Brown Ranch” Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley
2003 Rustenberg “Five Soldiers”, Stellenbosch, South Africa
The collective results were as follows:
1st Place - 2002 Catena Alta Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina;
2nd Place - 2004 Franciscan Oakville Estate “Cuvée Sauvage”, Carneros, Napa Valley;
3rd Place - 2003 Rustenberg “Five Soldiers”, Stellenbosch, South Africa;
4th Place - 2004 Leewin Estate Chardonnay “Art Series”, Margaret River, Australia; and,
5th Place - 2005 Domaine Laroche Chablis Premier Cru “Les Fourchaumes” VV
My own votes were as follows:
1st Place - 2002 Catena Alta Chardonnay Adrianna Vineyard, Mendoza, Argentina;
2nd Place - 2003 Rustenberg “Five Soldiers”, Stellenbosch, South Africa;
3rd Place - 2005 Domaine Robert Denogent Pouilly Fuissé “Les Reisses” VV, France;
4th Place - 2004 Leewin Estate Chardonnay “Art Series”, Margaret River, Australia; and,
5th Place - 2004 Petaluma Chardonnay Picadilly Valley, Australia.