Chardonnay

Question 1

Describe in general it’s nose, body, texture and how it ages.

Answer 1

Not an aromatic variety. It’s delicacy allows it to express oak and yeast-derived flavors and subtle “mineral” nuances from its soil. Full-bodied with a weighty, creamy texture. The best age well and develop honeyed nutty, savory complexity.

Question 2

Chardonnay climate variations.

Answer 2

Cool: low alcohol and body, high acidity, green fruit, citrus and occasionally vegetal. Moderate, such as Burgundy and some premiere NW regions: may taste of white stone fruit (peach), citrus notes, hints of melon.Warm: tropical fruit notes (peach, banana, pineapple, even mango and fig).

Question 3

Where do the flavors of Chardonnay come from? What are they?

Answer 3

Wine-making techniques. Malolactic fermentation, lees, oak.

Question 4

What is malolactic fermentation?

Answer 4

Process which is sometimes used to soften harsh acids. There are a 100 types of fermentation. Alcohol is just one of them.

Question 5

What does lees fermentation or refining on the lees provide?

Answer 5

Can add creamy texture and savory flavors, and soften the wine.

Question 6

Chardonnay and oak

Answer 6

• Toast, vanilla and coconut flavors from new oak.- Old oak - oxygenation
• Not all premium chardonnays taste of oak
• Excess oak can obliterate the delicate regional fruit flavors
• Chablis works because of its purity of fruit and little or no oak
• When the oak is of sufficient quality, the wine can be fermented and aged in small new oak barrels and the oak and fruit will be in balance

Question 7

What is the classic Chardonnay region?

Answer 7

White Burgundy. Finds its highest expression and is the most expensive.

Question 8

How is Chardonnay labeled in White Burgundy?

Answer 8

• Region
• District
• Village
• Vineyard

Question 9

What are the 4 quality levels for Chardonnay?

Answer 9

• Regional (Bourgogne)
• Village wines
• Premier cru
• Grand cru

Question 10

What are the characteristics of White Burgundy?

Answer 10

Smoky, toasty, buttery, nutty and mineralic elements with firm acidity that hold everything together.

Question 11

What are the sources of white burgundy in Burgundy?

Answer 11

• Chablis
• The Côte d’Or
• Mâconnais
• Beaujolais
• Bugey
• Côte Chalonnaise

Question 12

Characteristics of Chablis?

Answer 12

• cool climate
• bone-dry
• high acidity
• can be quite austere
• green fruit and citrus notes- limestone gives a recognizable smoky, flinty, mineral signature
• mineral characteristics more pronounced in wines labeled Premier Cru or Grand Cru

Question 13

About Côte d’Or:

Answer 13

• Heart of Burgundy
• Narrow band of gently sloping hillside (60 small AC’s)
• North: Côte de Nuits, South: Côte de Beaune
• Ideal, moderate climate for high-quality Chardonnay, mainly from Côte de Beaune
• Sold under the name of the village
• The most famous are Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet
• Chardonnay from Montrachet vineyard are judged as the finest dry whites in the world. Expensive.

Question 14

Characteristics of Côte d’Or Chardonnay:

Answer 14

• Aged in french oak and the lees

- Full-bodied, citrus, white stone and tropical fruit, oak, spice and savory notes.

Question 15

About Mâconnais:

Answer 15

• Most southernly major region
• Source of large volumes of moderately priced, light, fruity (melon, citrus) Chardonnay
• Little or no oak
• Sold as Mâcon
• Pouilly-Fuissé offers full-bodied, with tropical fruit (pineapple and melon) and oak flavors.
• Series of steep sun trap slopes at the far south of the Mâconnais (just north of Beaujolais)

Question 16

Premium regions for Chardonnay in Australia:

Answer 16

• Cooler parts of Victoria (Yarra Valley)
• The Adelaide Hills Region in South Australia
• The Margaret River Region in Western Australia

Question 17

Characteristics of classic Australian Chardonnay

Answer 17

• Pronounced fruit (fresh citrus and melon) and well
• integrated oak
• Unoaked versions becoming common

Question 18

Main Chardonnay regions of New Zealand and characteristics:

Answer 18

• Hawke’s Bay
• Gisborne
• Marlborough
• High natural acidity and pronounced oak flavors

Question 19

North American wine regions:

Answer 19

California:

• Coastal Region
• Sonoma
• Carneros

Question 20

Characteristics of CA climate:

Answer 20

Cool breezes and morning mists slow ripening and the long ripening period allow intense, complex flavors to build up.

Question 21

Characteristics of CA Chardonnays:

Answer 21

• Vary widely
• Some are full-bodied, with intense, rich citrus and ripe peach flavors and heavily oaked.
• Others can be very savory and reminiscent of Côte d’Or.

Question 22

South American Chardonnay regions:

Answer 22

Chile: Central Valley, Casablanca Valley is a subregion
Argentina: Mendoza

Question 23

Characteristics of Chilean Chardonnay:

Answer 23

• Cool sea breezes and morning fogs slow ripening and allow time for flavors to build up while retaining acids.
• Banana and melon flavors are often enhanced by barrel fermentation and aging.

Question 24

Characteristics of Mendoza Chardonnay:

Answer 24

Take advantage of high altitude and cool night-time temperatures to help produce wines with intense fruit flavors.

Question 25

South African Chardonnay region:

Answer 25

Walker Bay - cooler coastal region.

Question 26

Chardonnay in Blends:

Answer 26

- Semillon - Chardonnay: Australia - Colombard - Chardonnay: South Africa and California - Chardonnay - Chenin Blanc: France and South Africa - Viognier provides a successful pairing (give extra peach and floral character): France and Australia Australia: Semillon. Viognier France: Chenin Blanc, Viognier South Africa: Colombard, Chenin Blanc California: Colombard