3.10 Chardonnay Flashcards
What are Chardonnay’s preferred climates?
Cool
Warm
Moderate
What styles is chardonnay used to create?
a broad range:
high volume/premium
Still/sparkling
oaked/un-oaked
crisp, light/full-bodied
What can greatly affect Chardonnay’s flavor profile?
Climate
Describe typical cool climate Chardonnay
High acid
Light to medium body
Flavors of green fruit (pear, apple), citrus fruits (lemon) and wet stones
Describe typical moderate climate Chardonnay
Medium to high acidity
Medium to full body
Flavors of lemon, stone fruit (Peach) and sometimes tropical fruit (melon)
Describe typical warm climate Chardonnay
Full bodied
Medium acid
Flavors of stone fruit (peach) and tropical fruit(pineapple, banana)
What is a typical winemaking adjustment made to warm climate Chardonnays?
Acidification (most useful in warm climates)
To add complexity, what winemaking options can be used to produce Chardonnay?
Malolactic conversion (MLC)
Oak ageing
Lees ageing
What characteristics does MLC impart to wine?
Lees ageing?
Oak ageing?
Dairy flavors and softer acids
Flavors of bread and biscuit
Oak ageing adds body as well as smoke, vanilla and/or coconut flavors and aromas
What are some more cost effective alternatives to new oak barrels?
Oak staves, chips
Are very good/outstanding Chardonnays age-worthy?
Yes
They develop hazelnut and mushroom tertiary aromas/flavors
Must MLC, oak ageing and lees ageing be used judiciously?
Yes- the winemaker must always strive for BALANCE
Which region in France grows and produces some of the top Chardonnays?
Burgundy
Which northern climate area of Burgundy produces cool climate Chardonnay?
Chablis AOC
Which area of Burgundy, south of Chablis, produces moderate climate Chardonnay?
Cote d’Or
Which areas in Burgundy, south of the Cote d’Or also produce quality Chardonnay?
Cote Challonaise
Maconnais
What regional AOC can be used on a label if the Chardonnay grapes came from anywhere within Burgundy?
Bourgogne AOC
Usually simple wines
High acid
apple/lemon flavors
What type of appellation is Chablis AOC?
Village
The best vineyards are designated as either
1e Cru (Premier Cru)
Grand Cru
In which direction do most Premier Cru and Grand Cru vineyards of Chablis face?
S/SW
best sun exposure (allows greater ripeness in this northern area)
develops more flavorful characteristics
Describe the style of Chablis AOC?
- High acidity
- Light to medium body
- Green fruits (apple, pear)
- Citrus fruits (lemon)
- Wet stone
- Dry
- Use of new oak rare in all but a few of the top vineyards - most prefer to highlight grape characteristics
- Lees ageing is becoming more common here
What weather threatens Chablis?
Spring frost
Frost can burn young growth and cause flowers to fall off, decreasing yields
In general, are Chablis wines matured in new oak?
No
(Some Grand Cru use it)
What’s is the climate of the Côte d’Or?
Moderate
Will wines from Chabis or the Cote d’Or taste riper?
Cote d’Or
What are the 2 sections of the Cote d’Or called (N to S). What’s the primary grape focus of each?
CCote de Nuits (Pinot Noir)
Cote de Beaune (chardonnay)
How do flavors in the Cote d’Or differ from Chablis?
More body and riper fruit ( peach, melon)
Name 2 villages in the Cote de Beaune known for good-outstanding quality Chardonnay production.
Meursault AOC
Puligny-Montrachet AOC
In the Cote d’Or, what techniques are used to add complexity and body?
Oak Vessels
Lees ageing
MLC
Are very good/outstanding Cote d’Or chardonnays age-worthy?
Yes
Where is the Maconnais?
South of both the Cote d’Or and the Cote Challonaise
What is the regional Maconnais appelation?
Macon AOC
What is a sub region appellation in the Maconnais?
Pouilly-Fuisse AOC
Describe the style of Pouilly Fuisse wines
concentrated stone and tropical fruit flavors
often matured in oak.
What style of Chardonnay typically comes out of Languedoc-Roussillon (the south of France)?
Ripe stone & tropical fruit: peach, pineapple & banana
Very good/outstanding quality wines may see barrel fermentation.
Oak chips/staves are typically used in more modest price point labels.
What geographic feature is common to most quality California Chardonnay?
Proximity to the coast
In which area of California is most high yield Chardonnay grown? How are these high volume wines typically labelled?
The Central Valley
California - the state-wide appellation
Describe the style of high yield Central Valley Chardonnay.
Central Valley has a warm and dry climate producing peachy-pineapple-y, medium bodied Chardonnays.
Why are coastal California Chardonnays more balanced with more complex fruit flavors than inland versions?
Coastal areas are influenced by morning fog and cool ocean breezes, allowing for a longer/cooler growing season that helps grapes retain acidity.
Name 2 areas in northern California where Chardonnays benefit from cooling ocean breezes.
Los Carneros
Coastal areas of Sonoma County
Describe the stye of Napa Valley Chardonnay.
Full bodied
Tropical fruity
Vanilla & spice from new oak
Which county on California’s Central Coast is known for its Chardonnay?
Describe the style of these wines
Santa Barbara County
Some styles are similar to the Cote de Beaune- some are higher alcohol wines with tropical fruit flavors and pronounced flavors derived from the use of new oak.
Describe the style of Oregon Chardonnay
Oregon wines often hace refreshingly high acidity and a broad range of flavors ranging from Citrus (lemon) to Tropical (melon)
The climate in Oregon is generally _____.
Moderate
What Australian appellation produces Chardonnay in high volume (and usually low-to-medium quality)?
South Eastern Australia
Can be made with fruit from anywhere in a huge area - often from warm irrigated vineyards
Often blended with other varities from cooler vineyards to achieve better balance.
Name 3 appellations in Australia producing high quality Chardonnay.
What makes the high quality possible?
Adelaide Hills (cooled by altitude)
Yarra Valley (cooled by ocean currents)
Margaret River (cooled by sea breezes)
Describe the style of Adelaide Hills and Yarra Valley Chardonnay
Ripe stone fruit (peach)
Sometimes tropical fruit (pineapple, banana)
Medium to high acid, carefully balanced oak flavors
Describe the style of Margaret River Chardonnay
Ripe stone fruit (peach)
Tropical fruit (pineapple)
Medium to full body
Which New Zealand appellation on the South island is known for Chardonnay production?
What’s the climate?
The wine style?
Marlborough
Cool (but sunny) with ocean influences and abundant rainfall
Ripe lemon, peach and melon
High acidity
Subtle flavors from oak
Which New Zealand appellation on the North island is known for Chardonnay production?
What’s the climate?
The wine style?
Hawke’s Bay
Moderate
Full bodied
High acid
Pronounced stone fruit flavors
What region in Chile is known for Chardonnay production made possible by sea breezes and morning fog?
What is their style?
Casablanca Valley
Citrus (lemon) and stone fruit (peach) with varying levels of oak influence
What larger, warmer region in Chile is known for Chardonnay production?
What is their style?
Central Valley
Wide range: from inexpensive bulk wine to high quality examples from altitude moderated vineyards.
The hot inland areas of the _____ _____ produce high volume bulk wine in South Africa.
Western Cape
The coastal region of _____ _____ high quality Chardonnay in South Africa.
What is the style?
Walker Bay (one of the coolest areas in South Africa due to ocean breezes))
Very good quality
High acid
Ripe stone fruit (peach) and tropical fruit (pineapple)
oak related flavors
What grape is often a blending partner with Chardonnay in South Africa?
Why?
Chenin Blanc, because its naturally high acidity can balance the low acid style of warm climate Chardonnay.
How are today’s oak trends with Chardonnay different from the oak trends in the 1980s and 1990s?
Today oak usage is considerably down from what it was in the 80s and 90s when it dominated the wine.
Today winemakers are more judicious with their oak usage.
