A sintered ceramic honeycomb article that exhibits an average linear coefficient of thermal expansion (25-800° C.) below about 5.0×10−7° C.−1, a total porosity between the range of 20% to about 30%, and a pore size distribution such that at least about 86% of pores are of a pore size of less than about 2 &mgr;m with the pores exhibiting a generally elongated shape oriented with their long axis in the plane of the webs, the article being made from a cordierite-forming inorganic powder batch comprising a platy talc having median particle of size less than about 2 &mgr;m, at least 4% by weight of a dispersible Al2O3-forming source having a specific surface area in excess of 50 m2/g, and one or more of the components of kaolin, calcined kaolin, silica, and corundum, each having a median particle sizes less than 5 &mgr;m.