Ch07 Chardonnay Flashcards
Typical general characteristics of Chardonnay
- Neutral grape, not aromatic like Sauvignon Blanc
- Full body + weighty creamy texture
- Best Chardonnays ages well
- Expresses terroir so variety of styles
Chardonnay Climates?
• Cool Region
- Green Fruit (apple, pear) + Citrus + Vegetable (cucumber)
• Moderate Region
- White Stone Fruit (peach) + Citrus + Melon
• Hot Region
- Tropical Fruit (peach, banana, pineapple, mango, fig)
What is Malolactic Fermentation
- Dairy (butter, cream
- Harsh Malic Acids (apple) converted to softer Lactic Acids (milk)
What is Lees and what does it give (texture, flavour)
- Lees (dead yeast cells after fermentation) stirred through wine
- Creamy texture, savoury flavours
Oak adds flavours of?
Toast + Vanilla + Coconut
Burgundy Regions?
- Bourgogne AC
- Chablis
- Côte de Beaune
• Meursault
• Puligny-Montrachet - Mâconnais
• Mâcon
• Pouilly-Fuissé
Describe Chablis Chardonnay
- Cool climate
- Bone Dry + High Acidity + Austere + Smokey/Steely Minerality from Limestone soil
- No Oak
- Green Fruit (apple, pear) + Citrus (lemon)
- Characteristics more pronounced in Premier Crus and Grand Crus
Describe Cote d’Or Chardonnay (Cote de Beaune, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet)
- Fermented in small oak barrels = complexity + body
- Aged in contact with lees = Full body + Complex array of flavours
- Citrus + White Stone + Tropical Fruit + Oak + Spice + Savoury
- Le Montrachet = expensive
Describe Pouilly-Fuisse Chardonnay
Pouilly-Fuisse
- Full body + Tropical Fruit (pineapple, melon) + Oak
- Steep, sun trap slopes at far south of Maconnais
Describe Macon Chardonnay
Macon
- Large volumes, moderately priced
- Light + Fruity (melon, citrus)
- Little to no oak
Name Australian Chardonnay regions (3)
Yarra Valley, Victoria
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Margaret River, West Australia
Describe Characteristics of Australian Chardonnay
Classic = Pronounced Fruit (citrus, melon) + Well integrated oak
But more restrained and less or no oak becoming popular
New Zealand Chardonnay is produced in? Detail the characteristics.
- Marlborough
- Premium chardonnay
- High Natural Acidity + Citrus + Tropical Fruits + Mineral Notes + Oak
USA Chardonnay Regions
California
- Russian River
- Carneros
- Sonoma
Describe how California climate affects grapes
- Grown widely throughout California
- Most come from areas cooled by breezes and morning mists from Pacific Ocean
- Slows ripening allowing intense complex flavours to build up
California Chardonnay styles?
- Vary in style
- Many are full body + Intense rich Citrus and ripe peach + heavily oaked
- Some are savoury and like Cote d’Or
Chile Chardonnay Regions
- Central Valley
- Casablanca (northwest of Santiago)
Climate in Chile and how does it affect Chardonnay grapes?
Cool sea breezes + morning fog = slows ripening allowing time for flavours to build and RETAINING ACID
Style of production of Chardonnay in Chile
Barrel fermentation and ageing = Banana + Melon
Argentina Chardonnay Region
Mendoza
Characteristics of Mendoza Chardonnay?
High altitude + cool night time temperatures
Intense fruit + Spicy oak
Chardonnay in South Africa
- Walker Bay (coastal)
- Variety of styles
How is BULK Chardonnay made?
- Fermented - Blended - Stored In Stainless Steel Vats Until Ready For Bottling
- Oak Added With Staves Or Chips
BULK Chardonnay regions (7)
SEA Western Cape California Central Valley in Chile Pays d’Oc IGP or Vin de France Southern Italy Argentina
Chardonnay Blends
Chardonnay-Semillon = Australia
Colombard Chardonnay = South Africa + USA
Chardonnay Chenin Blanc = South Africa + USA
Chardonnay-Viognier
Why does Viognier blend well with Chardonnay
- Viognier’s oily texture + full body merge well with Chardonnay
- Viognier is aromatic and gives extra peachy, floral character
What are the key facts about Chardonnay ?
- It can grow in range of soils and climates and make attractive wines in different climates from cool(Chablis) to hot (California)
- Produce a wide range of styles
- Characteristics and acidity vary with climate
- Winemaking techniques influence characteristics
What are the aromas we get from cool climate ? (Chablis)
- High acidity
- Green fruits (apple, pear)
- Citrus fruit (lemon)
- Sometimes vegetable notes (cucumber)
- Smokey Mineral Flinty Signature
- Characteristics pronounced in Premiere Cru & Grand Crus
- Usually unoaked with few exceptions
What are the aromas we get from moderate climate ? (Burgundy and Premium New World)
- Stone fruit (peach)
- Citrus fruits
- Tropical fruit (Hint of melon)
- Often exposed to oak & lees; malolactic fermentation
What are the aromas we get from hot climate ? (New World)
Tropical fruits (peach, banana, pineapple, mango and fig)
What can we expect from the best ageing Chardonnays ?
Developing honeyed, nutty, savoury complexity
Classic example of Chardonnay blends?
Chardonnay-Semillon
Colombard-Chardonnay
Chardonnay-Chenin blanc
Chardonnay-Viognier
