International honour for SW chardonnays

Two Margaret River chardonnays have been honoured at a high-profile wine tasting competition in Canada.

According to Wine Australia,

Australian chardonnays took the top four spots in the third annual Le Jugement de Montréal (Judgement of Montréal) yesterday.

The event, loosely based on the re-enactment of the famed 1976 Judgement of Paris wine tasting, involved 30 wines tasted by 14 judges, who are among the most influential industry professionals in Quebec.

The Best Chardonnays are Australian, read the headline in Montreal's daily paper La Press overnight.

Wine judge Jacques Orhon said: "The (Australian) wines we tasted today had a subtle, refined and very well-crafted use of oak."

Wine Australia regional director North America Angela Slade said the results had generated excitement about Australian wine in Canada.

"Taking the four top places at the Judgement of Montréal blind tasting, and having five wines in the top 10, is a wonderful example of the quality of Australian wine speaking for itself," Ms Slade said.

"The Australian wines in the top 10 were from a number of regions and showcase the diversity of our Chardonnay offering.

"It has certainly created a lot of excitement among Quebec restaurant, media and trade wine circles and has parallels with the original 1976 Judgement of Paris where the 'underdog' challenged perceptions."

TOP 10 Chardonnays

Australia: Penfold's Yattarna Chardonnay 2010 (Tasmania/Adelaide Hills, South Australia)

Australia: Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2009 (Margaret River, Western Australia)

Australia: Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2012 (Margaret River, Western Australia)

Australia: Bindi Quartz Chardonnay 2012 (Macedon Ranges, Victoria)

France : Santenay Les 3 Croix, J. Bambara,2011

France : Puligny 1er cru Folatières, Génot-Boulanger,2010

France : Chablis 1er cru Beauroy, D&A Dauvissat,2011

Australia : Ngeringa Chardonnay 2009 (Adelaide Hills, South Australia)

France : Meursault 'Clos des Meix Chavaux', Vincent Latour,2011

France: Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Pavelot, 2008

The judges were Guénaël Revel - educator, broadcaster, author of Guide Revel des Champagnes et des autres bulles; Marc Chapleau - wine writer and editor of SAQ Les Blogues des vins et spiritueux; Bill Zacharkiw - wine writer for the Gazette and various wine publications nationally; Nadia Fournier - wine writer, co-author of Le Guide du vin; Robert Plamondon - wine writer and blogger; Véronique Rivest - 2nd best sommelier in the world, Tokyo 2013; Élyse Lambert - best sommelier, Americas, 2009; Patrick Desy - wine writer for Le journal de Montréal; Yves Mailloux - wine writer for the Huffington Post; Jean Sébastien Delisle - wine writer, restaurateur, sommelier; Jean Aubry - wine writer for Le Devoir; Jacques Orhon - wine writer, educator, broadcaster.