Chardonnay

Question 1

What are the key facts about Chardonnay ?

Answer 1

• 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 varies with climate
• Winemaking techniques influence characteristics

Question 2

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

Answer 2

• High acidity
• Green fruits (apple, pear)
• Citrus fruit (lemon)
• Sometimes vegetable notes (cucumber)

Question 3

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

Answer 3

• Stone fruit (peach)
• Citrus fruits
• Tropical fruit (Hint of melon)

Question 4

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

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What flavours come from winemaking techniques instead of the Chardonnay itself ?

Answer 5

• Dairy (butter, cream) from malolactic fermentation
• Creamy and savoury flavours (bread yeast) from stirred lees
• Toast, vanilla and coconut from oak

Question 6

What can we expect from the best aging Chardonnays ?

Answer 6

Developing honeyed, nutty, savoury complexity

Question 7

Do we use oak everywhere for Chardonnay ?

Answer 7

No in Chablis we mostly don’t use oak to keep the fruit pure.

Question 8

What a re the premium Chardonnay regions ?

Answer 8

• Burgundy
  
  • Bourgogne AC
  • Chablis (with mineral flavours)
  • Côte de Beaune (Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet)
  • Mâconnais (Mâcon, Pouilly-Fuissé)
• Pays d’OC IGP
• USA California (Russian river, Carneros, Sonoma)
• Chile (Casablanca Valley, Central Valley)
• Argentina (Mendoza)
• South Africa (Walker Bay)
• Australia (Yarra Valley, Adelaide Hills, Margaret River)
• New Zealand (Malborough)

Question 9

Classic example of Chardonnay blend ?

Answer 9

• Chardonnay-Semillon
• Colombard-Chardonnay
• Chardonnay-Chenin blanc
• Chardonnay-Viognier
• Local varieties

Question 10

Where Chardonnay is grown in France and what are the characteristics obtained ?

Answer 10

• 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.

Question 11

Where Chardonnay is grown in Australia and what are the characteristics obtained ?

Answer 11

• 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.

Question 12

Where Chardonnay is grown in NewZealand and what are the characteristics obtained ?

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

Where Chardonnay is grown in California and what are the characteristics obtained ?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

Where Chardonnay is grown in Chile and what are the characteristics obtained ?

Answer 14

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 banana 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.

Question 15

Where Chardonnay is grown in Argentina and what are the characteristics obtained ?

Answer 15

Climate: Hot (influenced by high altitude and cool night-time temperatures)

Style: Dry, full bodied and can be oaked or unoaked.

Flavours: Tropical fruit flavours of melon and pineapple supported by a lime zest.

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.

Question 16

Where Chardonnay is grown in South Africa and what are the characteristics obtained ?

Answer 16

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 used in Burgundy 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.