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WSET L2 > Ch07 Chardonnay > Flashcards

Ch07 Chardonnay Flashcards

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1
Q

Typical general characteristics of Chardonnay

A
  • Neutral grape, not aromatic like Sauvignon Blanc
  • Full body + weighty creamy texture
  • Best Chardonnays ages well
  • Expresses terroir so variety of styles
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2
Q

Chardonnay Climates?

A

• 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)

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3
Q

What is Malolactic Fermentation

A
  • Dairy (butter, cream

- Harsh Malic Acids (apple) converted to softer Lactic Acids (milk)

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4
Q

What is Lees and what does it give (texture, flavour)

A
  • Lees (dead yeast cells after fermentation) stirred through wine
  • Creamy texture, savoury flavours
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5
Q

Oak adds flavours of?

A

Toast + Vanilla + Coconut

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6
Q

Burgundy Regions?

A
  • Bourgogne AC
  • Chablis
  • Côte de Beaune
    • Meursault
    • Puligny-Montrachet
  • Mâconnais
    • Mâcon
    • Pouilly-Fuissé
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7
Q

Describe Chablis Chardonnay

A
  • 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
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8
Q

Describe Cote d’Or Chardonnay (Cote de Beaune, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet)

A
  • 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
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9
Q

Describe Pouilly-Fuisse Chardonnay

A

Pouilly-Fuisse

  • Full body + Tropical Fruit (pineapple, melon) + Oak
  • Steep, sun trap slopes at far south of Maconnais
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10
Q

Describe Macon Chardonnay

A

Macon

  • Large volumes, moderately priced
  • Light + Fruity (melon, citrus)
  • Little to no oak
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11
Q

Name Australian Chardonnay regions (3)

A

Yarra Valley, Victoria
Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Margaret River, West Australia

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12
Q

Describe Characteristics of Australian Chardonnay

A

Classic = Pronounced Fruit (citrus, melon) + Well integrated oak
But more restrained and less or no oak becoming popular

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13
Q

New Zealand Chardonnay is produced in? Detail the characteristics.

A
  • Marlborough
  • Premium chardonnay
  • High Natural Acidity + Citrus + Tropical Fruits + Mineral Notes + Oak
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14
Q

USA Chardonnay Regions

A

California

  • Russian River
  • Carneros
  • Sonoma
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15
Q

Describe how California climate affects grapes

A
  • 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
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16
Q

California Chardonnay styles?

A
  • Vary in style
  • Many are full body + Intense rich Citrus and ripe peach + heavily oaked
  • Some are savoury and like Cote d’Or
17
Q

Chile Chardonnay Regions

A
  • Central Valley

- Casablanca (northwest of Santiago)

18
Q

Climate in Chile and how does it affect Chardonnay grapes?

A

Cool sea breezes + morning fog = slows ripening allowing time for flavours to build and RETAINING ACID

19
Q

Style of production of Chardonnay in Chile

A

Barrel fermentation and ageing = Banana + Melon

20
Q

Argentina Chardonnay Region

A

Mendoza

21
Q

Characteristics of Mendoza Chardonnay?

A

High altitude + cool night time temperatures

Intense fruit + Spicy oak

22
Q

Chardonnay in South Africa

A
  • Walker Bay (coastal)

- Variety of styles

23
Q

How is BULK Chardonnay made?

A
  • Fermented - Blended - Stored In Stainless Steel Vats Until Ready For Bottling
  • Oak Added With Staves Or Chips
24
Q

BULK Chardonnay regions (7)

A 
SEA
Western Cape
California
Central Valley in Chile
Pays d’Oc IGP or Vin de France
Southern Italy
Argentina
25
Q

Chardonnay Blends

A

Chardonnay-Semillon = Australia
Colombard Chardonnay = South Africa + USA
Chardonnay Chenin Blanc = South Africa + USA
Chardonnay-Viognier

26
Q

Why does Viognier blend well with Chardonnay

A
  • Viognier’s oily texture + full body merge well with Chardonnay
  • Viognier is aromatic and gives extra peachy, floral character
27
Q

What are the key facts about Chardonnay ?

A
  • 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
28
Q

What are the aromas we get from cool climate ? (Chablis)

A
  • 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
29
Q

What are the aromas we get from moderate climate ? (Burgundy and Premium New World)

A
  • Stone fruit (peach)
  • Citrus fruits
  • Tropical fruit (Hint of melon)
  • Often exposed to oak & lees; malolactic fermentation
30
Q

What are the aromas we get from hot climate ? (New World)

A

Tropical fruits (peach, banana, pineapple, mango and fig)

31
Q

What can we expect from the best ageing Chardonnays ?

A

Developing honeyed, nutty, savoury complexity

32
Q

Classic example of Chardonnay blends?

A

Chardonnay-Semillon
Colombard-Chardonnay
Chardonnay-Chenin blanc
Chardonnay-Viognier

WSET L2 (22 decks)

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