The following letter to the editor was submitted to Niagara-on-the-Lake Local by reader Philippe Borel in response to this article published on April 10, 2023.
No, winning gold at the 'Best Chardonnay in the world 2023' competition is not “been awarded one of the most coveted gold medal in the world of wine" to quote the writer of the article.
Winning a gold medal along such terroirs as Ardèche, Gers or Pays d'Oc does not put you in the world class level.
Running against the best of Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet, the best of Napa, Sonoma or Margaret River does.
None of the above terroirs field an entry did they? Short answer is no.
The 'Best Chardonnay in the world' competition, 537 entries, 178 medals (one in three... tough to fail) is a good marketing operation: sticker on your bottle stating 'Gold Medal winner at the etc, etc.
'Best in show' label from Decanter world wine awards, !0,800 thousand entries last year contest is meaningful.
And that is where the difference lies.
To quote the immortal John Mac Enroe ' You can't be serious'...
Cheers!
Philippe Borel
