The present invention is directed at sintered ceramic articles exhibiting a crystalline phase assemblage comprising, by weight, of 65-95% cordierite and 5-35% of a secondary phase selected from the group consisting of mullite, magnesium-aluminate spinel, and sapphirine and having a bulk analytical composition consisting essentially of about, by weight, 32-51% SiO2, 35-49% Al2O3, 7-16% MgO. Furthermore, the ceramic articles exhibit an effective strength of greater than about 3000, a CTE of less than about 15×10−7/° C., over the temperature range of 25° C., to 1000° C., and a total intrusion porosity, as measured by a Hg intrusion method, of at least 20%. This invention also relates to a method for producing a sintered ceramic article having the aforementioned cordierite and secondary minor phase mixture.