This was a close one. Only three points separated our first-place wine from the second-place bottle, and our bronze finisher was behind by only two points.
Our winner was also the best value of the night. Indeed, one could purchase two bottles of the winning Margaret River Chardonnay for the price of one bottle of the New Zealand entry in second-place.
We enjoyed all the wines for showing class and restraint, since none were slathered with excessive oak or dominated by malolactic fermentation. The last place Chilean bottle received no points, simply because we just didn’t love it compared to the rest.
Three of us correctly identified the Chablis with its saline notes, but overall, we did poorly deciphering which country matched each glass. Andy P also correctly identified the California and Italian wine, but readily admitted to simply guessing.
Some photography help by Andy.
First Place: Cape Mentelle Chardonnay Marri 2023 (Margaret River). Bright, friendly, and fresh on the nose, with scents of green apples, baking spices, vanilla, oak, and lime zest. Delicious, having plenty of acidity to support pineapple and marshmallows flavors, ending long, where limestone and river rock notes peek out. Great lift. Elegant and ripe at the same time, with David noting that it turned tropical with time. Ali and Resa’s favorite of the night, with a total of 24 points. Andy R’s bottle. A steal at about $20.
Second Place: Kumeu River Chardonnay Estate 2022 (Kumeu). Tasters noted some leafy, weedy aromas (reminiscent of tomato leaves) to go with the lemon scents, plus hints of dairy and urine. Balanced, bright, and fresh, in the mouth, dominated by green pear flavors, plus notions of cottage cheese, sour milk, and butterscotch. Plenty of acidity, then a bit toasty on the finish. Comes off as sophisticated, elegant, and well-produced. David called it “very intentional.” Andy R and Kristin’s favorite, with a total of 21 points. David’s bottle. About $40.
Third Place: Flowers Chardonnay 2023 (Sonoma Coast). Resa described this wine’s nose as “gentle” and “hiding”, with others finding slightly smoky notes, vanilla, lanolin, wet earth, wet wool, and green vegetables. Crème brûlée, cooked sugar, and raspberry flavors initially, with plenty of acidity and a pleasant bitterness on the finish. Not tiring, with a toasty quality in a light way, turning more tropical (mango/pineapple) with time, along with caramel apple and something medicinal. 19 total points. Resa’s bottle. About $52.
Antinori Chardonnay Bramito della Sala 2025 (Umbria). Some acetone and funk on the nose, then moves toward bubble gum, red apple, lemon, pear, toasted wood, arugula, and orange peel. David described it as “intriguing but not obvious.” Like citrus oil on the palate, with an unctuous, slightly waxy feel to it, having flavors of tomatoes, pineapples, figs, and sour apples. Long finish. Shows purity and ripeness. Andy P noted that “this is a wine that drinks like a meal; feels like food.” David’s favorite of the night. 11 points. Kristin’s bottle. About $23.
Bernard Defaix Chablis 2023. Pretty and floral nose, with a vibrant, bright quality. Spring-like. A powder. Tasters found a briny, salty quality in the mouth, like oyster liquor, and good acidity. Refreshing, numbing finish, “but not in a bad way” as Ali noted. Kristin felt that it was like “a good pop song.” Limestone on the finish. Pleasing. 9 points. Ali’s bottle. About $35.
Escudo Rojo Chardonnay Gran Reserva 2022 (Valle de Casablanca). Metallic, like a can of tomatoes that has been open for a while. Cigarettes. Canned peas and heavy cream. A bit feral. Ripe and rich in the mouth, with notions of peaches, rubber, and hazelnuts. Andy R noted that “It’s more drinkable than it is smellable”, with Kristin finding that “It takes me on a journey I don’t really want to go on.” Not a bad wine, but no one loved it. Resa described it as “a Chardon-no”. No points. Andy P’s bottle. About $17.