Wset Level 2 - Chardonnay

Front 1

Chardonnay wines tend to be _____-bodied, with a _____ texture.

Back 1

Full-bodied with a weighty, creamy texture.

Front 2

The best Chardonnays age well developing...

Back 2

... a honeyed, nutty, savoury complexity.

Front 3

Why is Chardonnay an unusual grape variety?

Back 3

Can make attractive wines in regions of varying climates. Style varies greatly depending on where grown

Front 4

Cool climate / region affect on taste of Chardonnay?

Back 4

Offer:

green fruit (apple, pear)

citrus

occasional vegetable notes (cucumber)

Front 5

Moderate climate / region affect on taste of Chardonnay?

e.g. Cotes de Beaune and some premium New World regions

Back 5

Offer:

white stone fruit (peach)

citrus notes

hints of melon

Front 6

Hot climate / region affect on taste of Chardonnay?

e.g. New World

Back 6

Offer:

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

Front 7

Flavours in Chardonnay - from grape or wine making techniques?

Back 7

Wine making techniques

Front 8

What are lees, and their effect during ageing process?

Back 8

Dead yeast cells left behind after fermentation has finished; stirred through wine and aged to add creamy texture and savoury flavours

Front 9

Effect of fermenting in oak?

Back 9

Toast, vanilla

, and coconut flavours

Front 10

Effect of malolactic fermentation?

Back 10

Dairy (butter, cream) flavours

Front 11

Where does Chardonnay find its "highest" expression?

Back 11

Burgundy (Bourgogne; in eastern France)

Front 12

3 main Chardonnay regions in France and their climate?

Back 12

1. Chablis - cool climate
2. Cote d'Or - heart of Burgundy, moderate climate; southern half known as Cote de Beaune
3. Maconnais - most southern district

Front 13

Describe Chablis
(Cool climate)

Back 13

Bone-dry with high acidity, quite austere

Green fruit and citrus notes

Many have smoky, flinty, mineral signature

No oak flavours

Front 14

What are the most famous Cote d'Or/Cote de Beaune villages?

Back 14

1. Meursault
2. Puligny-Montrachet

Front 15

Describe Cote de Beaune wines

Hint: actually a mix of moderate and hot climate characteristics

Back 15

Complex and full bodied (from fermenting in small oak barrels and ageing on the lees)

Offer complex succession of diff flavours: citrus, white stone and tropical fruit, oak, spice and savoury notes.

Front 16

Is Maconnais a premium or large volume Chardonnay production area?

Back 16

Source of large volumes of moderately priced, light, fruity (melon, citrus) Chardonnay w/little or no oak. Sold as Macon.

No Grand Cru vineyards.

Front 17

What region are Pouilly-Fuisse Chardonnays from? Describe them.

Back 17

1. Maconnais
2. Full-bodied w/ tropical fruit (pineapple, melon) and oak flavours

Front 18

What are the main regions for premium Chardonnay in Australia?

Back 18

South Eastern Australia:

1. Yarra Valley
2. Adelaide Hills
3. Margaret River

Front 19

What is the classic Australian Chardonnay style?

Back 19

Pronounced fruit (fresh citrus and melon) and

Well-integrated oak flavours

Unoaked versions becoming more common

Front 20

Main regions for premium Chardonnay in New Zealand?

Back 20

Marlborough, South Island

Front 21

What are the main regions for premium Chardonnay in California, US?

Back 21

California:

1. Sonoma County

2. Los Carneros

Front 22

What are the main regions for premium Chardonnay in Chile?

Back 22

1. Casablanca Valley north of Santiago

2. Central Valley

Front 23

What is the main region for premium Chardonnay in Argentina?

Back 23

Mendoza

Front 24

What is the main region for premium Chardonnay in South Africa?

Back 24

Walker Bay - cooler coastal part

Front 25

How are large-volume Chardonnays made?

Back 25

Fermented, blended, and stored in stainless steel vats until ready for packaging; oak flavours often added in staves or chips

Front 26

The finest Chardonnay still wines are unblended. T/F?

Back 26

True

Front 27

4 grape types often blended with Chardonnay for high volume market?

Back 27

1. Semillion

2. Colombard

3. Chenin Blanc

4. Viognier

Front 28

Chardonnay wines labelled Bourgogne are from which region?

Back 28

Burgundy, France (White Burgundy)

Bourgogne is French for Burgundy

Front 29

How are complexity and body added to Cotes Du Beaune Chardonnays?

Back 29

Fermented in small oak barrels and ageing them in contact with yeast left over from fermentation (on the lees).

Front 30

Best dry white wines in world are judged to be from Montrachet or Meursault vineyard?

Back 30

Le Montrachet. And have price tags to match!

Front 31

What creates toast, vanilla and coconut flavours in Chardonnay?

Back 31

Oak treatment

Front 32

What creates creamy texture and savoury flavours in Chardonnay?

Back 32

Ageing on the lees (dead yeast cells left behind after fermentation are stirred through wine)

Front 33

Where do dairy (butter, cream) flavours come from in Chardonnay?

Back 33

Side-product of malolactic fermentation, which is sometimes used to soften harsh acids

Front 34

Cotes de Nuits + Cotes De Beaune =

Back 34

Cote D'Or.

Which brings us nicely to Pinot Noir...