Wset Intermediate 2009: Chapter 5: Chardonnay

Front 1

What climate is Chablis?
How does this affect Chardonnay?

Back 1

Cool.

offer green fruit (apple, pear) with citrus and occasional vegetal notes (cucumber)

Front 2

Example of moderate climates?


Effect on Chardonnay?

Back 2

Most of burgundy and some premium New World regions.

white stone fruit (peach) with citrus notes and hints of melon.

Front 3

Examples of warm regions?

Effect on Chardonnay?

Back 3

Most New World sites.

more tropical fruit notes (peach, banana and pineapple, and even mango and fig)

Front 4

Where do most flavors on Chard. come from?

Back 4

come from winemaking techniques and not from grape variety.

Front 5

Where does dairy (butter, cream) flavors comes from?

Back 5

site-products of a process called malolactic fermentation, which is sometimes used to soften harsh acids.

Front 6

What are lees?

How do they affect Chardonnay?

Back 6

1) Dead yeast cells left behind after fermentation has finished.

2) can be stirred through wine and add creamy texture and savoury flavors.

Front 7

How does oak treatment affect Chardonnay?

Back 7

Flavors of toast, vanilla, and coconut occur.

Front 8

1) where does Chardonnay find its "highest" expression?

2) How is it labeled?

Back 8

1) Burgundy (in eastern France)

2) rarely "Chardonnnay on label; usually the region, the district, village or vineyard originates.

Front 9

3 Main districts for Chardonnay and description?

Back 9

1) Chablis: cool district

2) Cote d'Or: heart of burgundy, wines mostly from southern half (known as Cote de Beaune)

3) Maconnais: most southern dostrict

Front 10

Describe Chablis

Back 10

1) bone -dry wines w/ high acidity
2) quite austere w/ green fruits and citrus notes
3) limestone soil gives smoky, flinty, mineral signature
4) mineral pronounced in Premier Cru or Grand Crus.

Front 11

What is most famous of Cote d'Or (Cote de Beaunne) villages?

Back 11

1) Meursault

2) Puligny-Montrachet

Front 12

How are Cote d'Or (Cote de Beaunne) wines flavored?

Back 12

1) complexity and body are added to these by fermenting in small oak barrels.

2) ageing w/ left-over yeast.

Front 13

What are typical flavor profiles of Cote d'Or (Cote de Beaunne) wines?

Back 13

1) w/ oak and yeast, they become full-bodied and offer complex succession of flavors including citrus, white stone and tropical fruit, oak, spice and savoury notes.

Front 14

What is the most known Cote d'Or (Cote de Beaunne) vineyard?

Back 14

Le Montrachet vineyard: finest dry white wines in the world.

Front 15

Describe Maconnais Chardonnays?

Back 15

source of large volumes of moderately prices, light, fruity (melon, citrus) w/ little or no oak and are sold as MACON.

Front 16

In what district are Pouilly-Fuisse Chardonnays from?

Describe them?

Back 16

1) Maconnais
2) full-bodied w/ tropical fruit (pineapple, melon) and oak flavors.
--come from steep suntrap slopes in south of district.

Front 17

Where are the main regions for premium chardonnay in Australia?

Back 17

1) Hunter Valley Region (New South Wales)
2) several cool parts of Victoria
3) Limestone Coast Zone (plus Padthaway
4) Adelaide Hills Region (South)
5) Margaret River Region (Western)

Front 18

Describe Chardonnays from Hunter Valley?

Back 18

hot region: producing oaky wines with tropical fruit (melon, fig)

Front 19

Adelaide Hills Chardonnays?

Back 19

high acid levels and aromatic, vegetal and citrus (grapefruit) aromas.

Front 20

What is classic Autralian Chardonnay flavor?

Back 20

pronounced fruit and oak flavors but unoaked and lightly oaked versions are becoming more common.

Front 21

Chardonnay production in New Zealand?

biggest regions?

Back 21

-high natural acidity and pronounced oak flavors

-hawkes bay, gisborne, and marlborough.

Front 22

California Chardonnays regions? and characteristics?

Back 22

-regions lying between Californian Coastal Range and Pacific
-cool breezes and morning mists slow ripening;; this builds up intense complex flavors

Front 23

How can California Chardonnays be labeled?

Back 23

-Coastal
-or more specific: Sonoma County or Carneros.
-or burgundy model of vineyards.

Front 24

Chile Chardonnays?

Back 24

1) --premium: Casablanca Valley north of Santiago
--some high quality also in Central Valley

Front 25

Premium Chile Chardonnay description?

Back 25

--cool sea breezes and morning fogs: flavors build, acids retained;
--Banana and melon flavors often enhanced by barrel fermentation and ageing.

Front 26

Premium Charonnay in Argentina:

where?

Describe?

Back 26

1) Mendoza

2) high altitude and cool night-time temps help produce wines with intense fruit flavours.

Front 27

Premium Charonnay in South Africa?

Back 27

cooler coastal parts: Walker Bay ward especially produce fine SA chardonnays.

Front 28

How are large-volume Chardonnays made?

Back 28

1) fermented , blended, and stored in stainless steel vats until ready for packaging and sale.

2) oak flavors often added in staves or chips; occasionally, oak barrels.

Front 29

blends of Chardonnay?

Back 29

Mostly for low-price selling of other wines, Examples:
1) Semillon
2) Colombard and Chenin blanc (SA and Cali)
3) Viognier