Chardonnay Flashcards
Chardonnay throughout the globe
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)
- Usually unoaked though occasionally lightly oaked (eg, Grand Cru)
- Usually exposed to malolactic fermentation
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 & malolactic fermentation
What are the aromas we get from hot climate ? (New World)
- Tropical fruits (peach, banana, pineapple, mango and fig)
What flavours come from winemaking techniques instead of the Chardonnay itself ?
- Dairy (butter, cream) from malolactic fermentation
- Creamy and savoury flavours (bread yeast) from stirred lees and lees contact
- Toast, vanilla and coconut from oak
What can we expect from the best aging Chardonnays ?
Developing honeyed, nutty, savoury complexity
Do we use oak everywhere for Chardonnay ?
No sometime we don’t use oak to keep the fruit pure. For example, in Chablis.
What are the premium French Chardonnay regions? What characteristics would you expect in these wines?
- Burgundy
- Bourgogne AC
- Chablis
- Côte de Beaune
- Meursault
- Puligny-Montrachet
- Mâconnais
- Mâcon
- Pouilly-Fuissé
Climate: Cool to moderate - Style: From dry, high acidity, medium body and no oak to full bodied (Chablis), medium acidity and fermented in small oak barrels (Burgundy)
Flavours: Range from green apple, pear, lemon and lime to melon and peach with oak and vanilla spice. The classic region for Chardonnay is Burgundy in France and the climate ranges from cool in Chablis to moderate in the Côte d’Or. The wines are priced up to premium. There is some inexpensive Chardonnay coming from the Pays d’Oc and Val de Loire which is sometimes blended with local grape varieties to produce higher volume wines.
Classic example of Chardonnay blends?
- Chardonnay-Semillon
- Colombard-Chardonnay
- Chardonnay-Chenin blanc
- Chardonnay-Viognier
Where are the Premium Chardonnay region/s in New Zealand? And what are the characteristics obtained?
- South Island
- Marlborough
Climate: Cool to Moderate
Style: From unoaked to oaked, dry, medium to full body with medium acidity
Flavours: Stone fruit of peach and apricot with citrus notes of lemon and lime in cooler climates to tropical fruit flavours of mango, melon and pineapple in moderate climates. The wines from cool climates like Marlborough tend to have high fruit intensity of stone and citrus fruit with some complexity. Wines from moderate climates like Hawkes Bay have more tropical fruit, complexity and are medium to full- bodied, almost opulent with balanced acidity. The wines are priced up to the premium price category.
Where are the Premium Chardonnay region/s in North America? And what are the characteristics obtained?
- California
- Russian River
- Carneros
- Sonoma
Climate: Moderate (influenced by the proximity to the ocean) Style: Dry medium to full body and ranging from fruit-forward types to very much in the Burgundy style i.e. aged in oak.
Flavours: Stone fruit of ripe peach to tropical fruit of banana, pineapple and melon with some lemon and lime citrus notes and buttery toast. California produces a range of styles from everyday drinking wine to the complex oak fermented blockbuster that can benefit from ageing. The premium wines come from Sonoma and Carneros. Chardonnay is also blended with Colombard to make a more marketable wine. The wines are priced from inexpensive to premium.
Where are the Premium Chardonnay region/s in South America? And what are the characteristics obtained?
- Chile
- Casablanca Valley
- Central Valley
- Argentina
- Mendoza
Climate: Hot (influenced by the Andes and proximity to the ocean) Style: Dry, medium-full bodied and can be oaked or unoaked.
Flavours: Yellow apple and grapefruit zest to more tropical (banana, pineapple and ripe melon). Vanilla and toast in oaked wines.
Central Valley and Casablanca produce a range of Chardonnay from inexpensive up to premium and often represent good value for money.
Mendoza is a key region for high quality Chardonnay with very intense fruit flavours. The wines tend to be priced in the inexpensive up to premium price category.
Where are the Premium Chardonnay region/s in Africa? And what are the characteristics obtained?
- South Africa
- Walker Bay
Climate: Moderate to hot Style: Dry, full bodied and generally aged in oak partially or fully.
Flavours: Stone fruit of apricot and peach and more tropical fruit flavours of melon; toast and vanilla notes balance out the fruit.
Techniques such as fermenting in small oak barrels and ageing in contact with the yeast left over from fermentation contribute to the character of many premium examples from areas such as Walker Bay. Chardonnay is often blended with Colombard or Chenin Blanc to produce inexpensive wines. The wines tend to be priced in the inexpensive up to the premium price category.
Where are the Premium Chardonnay region/s in Australia? And what are the characteristics obtained?
- Western Australia
- Margaret River
- South Australia
- Adelaide Hills
- Yarra Valley
Climate: Moderate (can be hot at times but tempered by altitude and proximity to large bodies of water) - Style: The wines tend to be dry, medium to full body, unoaked or barrel fermented and/or oaked aged.
Flavours: Stone fruit of peach and apricot, lemon and lime and some tropical notes of melon, mango and pineapple. Vanilla and toast in oaked Chardonnay.
The quality and range of styles are diverse, reflecting different vineyard sites and winemaking techniques. Premium Chardonnay comes from Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley and Margaret River regions and these wines are generally up to the premium price category. A classic Australian blend is Semillon with Chardonnay and these are generally inexpensive wines.
