A Wine Tasting Experiment

The Ordre Mondiale, a part of the Chaine des Rotisseurs with a particular interest in wines attempted to pick the origins of eight wines – four Australian and four French.
They were presented masked and after a Pol Roger N/V champagne and an appetizer A Tasmanian oyster, Goats cheese and caramelized onion tart, confit duck pastie and a salmon blini, the wines were served with an excellent four course menu prepared by Michael Bacash at his eponymous Domain Rd. restaurant
In all cases the majority of the 16 participants correctly identified the national origins of the wines and there was a distinct preference for the French offerings with the exception of an overwhelming preference for the Australian Pinot Noir.
These were the wines and the accompanying dishes.
Trimbach Fredrich Emile 2001 Reisling v Crawford River 2006 Reisling
served with a salad of Hiramasu Kingfish, dressed with citrus and celery salt, EVOO,with a watercress, orange and olive salad
Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2002 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin v Main Ridge Estate Chardonnay
served with seared sea scallops with cauliflower cream, crisp pancetta and a fine herb salad
Vosne-Romaine 1er Cru Les Orveaux 2005 Mongeard-Mugneret v Bass Phillip 21 2006 Pinot Noir
seared crispy skin ocean trout with sauteed spinach, fondantpotato and rosemaryveal jus
Chateau Coutet 2001 Barzac Sauterne v De Bortoli Noble One 2005

with a trio of Verbena desserts - jelly, granita and syllabub