Alamos (Argentina) Chardonnay 2000
A little sneak preview here for wine-pages visitors, of the 5.99 Chardonnay that not only won the ‘great value white’ award in the 2002 International Wine Challenge, but went on to scoop the trophy as best Chardonnay. I attended the IWC awards dinner mid-week, and drank a couple of glasses of this. Is it the best Chardonnay in the world? Probably not, but it is an absolute little cracker at the money from Argentina’s superstar winemaker, Nicolas Catena. Aged in French oak, 65% if which is new, there is probably no more lavishly produced Chardonnay around at 6, with its toasty, charry, butterscotch and vanilla nose, followed on to the palate with a buttery weight of ripe tropical fruit suggesting guava, pineapple and nectarine, all shot through with a vervy streak of lime acidity. It has a lovely mouth-feel and balance, and a long, delicious, honeyed finish. 5.99 from Bibendum , Everywine, Majestic, Oddbins.
