|
Chardonnay
(shar-dohn-AY)
Synonyms:
Chardonnay, Morillon (Austria)
Wine Name:
Chardonnay, Chablis, White Burgundy, Burgundy Villages names, Blanc de Blanc (for many sparkling wines)
Background:
In a cool climate, the Chardonnay grape takes on apple and green plum aromas. It may have a steely, mineral taste, with a light to medium body and medium to high acidity. The Chablis and Champagne districts of France would be examples of this. In aged bottles of older vintages, there might be a clover honey taste. Other white French Burgundies (all Chardonnay grape) might be the same except less minerally and flinty due to a different soil.
In warm or hot climates Chardonnay may produce melon, peach, banana, mango and fig aromas but which are not very pronounced. It will be a medium acid, medium to full bodied wine such as found in a California or South Australian Chardonnay. If the Chardonnay has undergone malolactic fermentation (an additional fermentation with bacteria rather than yeast) and been fermented in small oak barrels, it might have rich, creamy pear, fig, hazelnut and vanilla (from the oak) flavors, with a long, luxurious finish and not acidic tasting at all.
Chardonnay takes well to oak flavors obtained by fermenting and/or aging in oak barrels with various percentages of new, vanillin flavored wood. Oaked Chardonnay can be slight, light, medium or heavy in vanillin flavor depending upon the winemaking techniques used. Almost all of the time if oak is used, malolactic fermentation which produces a softening and creaminess, is also applied to the wine.
Classic Brands and Sources:
Many French Burgundy producers; Australia - Cape Mentelle, Grosset. Leeuwin, Nepenthe, Plantagenet; USA - Chateau St Jean, Chateau Montelena, Au Bon Climat, Hanzell, Kistler, Shafer, Marcassin, Chateau Ste Michelle, Kendall-Jackson, Newton, Beringer; New Zealand - Kumeu River, Babich, Cloudy Bay, Dry River, Vavasour, Villa Maria; Chile - Montes, Tabali, Viña Casablanca; Argentina - Lucca
Characteristics:
| Style | Body | Acidity | Sweetness | Tannins |
|
Chablis
|
light
|
high
|
dry, minerally
|
low
|
|
unoaked, warm climate
|
light to
medium(-)
|
medium (-)
|
dry, fruity
|
low
|
|
lightly oaked cool climate
|
medium (-)
|
medium (-)
|
dry
|
low
|
|
lightly oaked warm climate
|
medium |
medium
|
dry, fruity
|
low to
medium(-)
|
|
moderately oaked, warm climate
|
medium to
medium(+)
|
medium (-)
|
dry but creamy
|
medium (-)
|
Wine and food pairing guidelines:
Unoaked - Pairs with medium bodied acidic foods.
Oaked - Pairs well with medium-bodied dishes that are buttery, fatty, savory or roasted or smoky
Foods and Entrees that usually pair:
Unoaked - Pairs with fish, shellfish, chicken, pork and veal with citric and other acidic sauces; salads, sushi
Oaked - Pairs with heavier fish, shellfish, chicken, pork and veal with buttery, creamy or other savory sauces; pastas with buttery, pesto or cheese sauces, truffles, smoked salmon
Cheese Pairings:
Unoaked - Boursin herbed (cool climate), Brick, Derby, Feta (sheep's milk), goat cheese, Gouda, Havarti, Majorero (Spanish hard goat cheese) Mahon, Bucheron (French goat cheese), dry Jack cheese, Cream (warm weather), Neufchatel , Saint -Felicien (French cow;s milk cheese), Raclette, Pave Affinois
Oaked - Mild cheddar, Chaumes, Double Glouchester (similar to mild cheddar),Gouda, Smoked Gouda, Manchego, Monterey Jack, Triple Creme, St André, St Nectaire Zamarano (Spanish sheep's milk cheese), Brie and Camembert (with or without rinds)
|
Chardonnay at California Wine Club
Plonk Wine Chardonnay
Chardonnay at Wikipedia
Chardonnay at WinePros
What is your Favorite Brand of this Wine?
|
