MEETING NOTICE
The topic for our January meeting is "Chardonel Still Wine Styles". Fifty-nine wineries in Missouri produce wine using the Chardonel grape (1) , making it one of the most popular regional wines. Amateur wine makers in Missouri are fortunate that high quality Chardonel grapes are available from local vineyards. Steve Brunkhorst will lead the meeting, and will share his 2014 vintage Chardonel wines. We will taste his Chardonel produced in glass without flavor or aroma modification, and compare it to the same base wine produced with malolactic fermentation as well the same base wine aged with American oak. We will also taste Chardonel wines from several Missouri wineries.
(1) apellationamerica.com CHARDONEL Still Wine Styles
Missouri Winemaking Society January 21, 2016 Steve Brunkhorst
CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
Chardonel a cross of Seyval x Chardonnay in 1953. Fruit first observed 1958 Original vine propagated in 1960
Distinguished by superior wine quality combined with high productivity
Cold hardiness superior to parent Chardonnay
The 4th wine grape cultivar to be named by the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station Cayuga White (1972) Horizon ( 1983) Melody (1986).
SOURCE www.hort.cornell.edu CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
“This hybrid grape is a cross of the famed Chardonnay grape with the popular Seyval Blanc. Chardonel can be fermented in oak or stainless steel barrels, and the grapes produce a dry and full bodied wine. Depending on aging techniques, this hybrid may exude notes of oak, butter or citrus fruit. “
SOURCE www.MissouriWine.org CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
THIS MEETING TASTING COMPARISONS
Amateur Produced Chardonel Still Wine made in several styles
Free-Run-Juice Press-Run-Juice OAK MLF Fermented & Aged in Glass
Missouri Commercially Produced Chardonel Still Wines
Stainless Steel Fermented or Aged in Oak Barrels CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles Tasting Sequence
1 2 4 3
Free Free Free Press Steve’s Wine Run Run Run Run Naked Oak MLF Oak
Oak + MLF
5
Oak Oak Naked Commercial barrel barrel batonnage
6 7 8 CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles How Were the Styles Managed in the Cellar
Free Run – juice collected without pressing, hand stirring only Press Run – juice collected with soft press post free run collection Naked – fermented & aged in glass, no oak, no MLF CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
2014 Chardonel ….Exceptional Condition Nice Chardonel Bunch – note “shoulders” CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
Sun Canopy & Fan Provide some relief from heat
Homemade crusher. Wetted materials are food grade polyethylene, hard rock maple & stainless steel.
Must kept cool with ice in baggie CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
Center post covered with PVC pipe, Polyethylene liner on press base
Rice hulls used to promote juice flow during pressing CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
Fermentation Room In Basement Winery CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
Basement winery: supply storage, dedicated wine sink, rubber mat, task lighting, instrument cabinet CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
Carboy Bench in Fermentation “Dark Room” CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
Window AC in Fermentation Room Controlled by “WineStat” Thermostat Ferment at 58-60 deg F Juice transported from crush-press pad to basement winery using 5gal plastic water jug. 10% SO2 solution added to bottom of plastic jug before juice is introduced.
Juice kept at 40-50 deg F to inhibit natural yeast during 12 hour settling period
Juice siphoned from transport carboy to fermentation carboy…note CO2 for blanketing CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles Juice after minimum 12 hour settling period. The gross lees are discarded prior to introduction of cultured yeast. “Clean” juice is a necessary for a clean-fresh-fruity white wine. CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles White wine fermentation takes place in carboys, not open containers as used for red wine making. Juice after racking from gross lees. Note plastic cover over mouth of carboy
Yeast Starter. One pint per carboy
When the yeast takes hold, replace paper towel cover with air locks. Yeast added to carboys. Replace plastic cover with Paper Towel cover CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles Missouri Winemaking Society Awards 2015 Not Not 1 G * 2 S 4 submitted 3 submitted
Free Free Free Press Steve’s Wine Run Run Run Run Naked Oak MLF Oak
* Best of Show Candidate Oak + MLF
5 G
Wine Makers Magazine 2015 Awards : None – wine fizzy after transport CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
LESSONS LEARNED
1. Increase Potassium Sorbate Dose 2. Best of Show Candidate was Naked… Why Oak & Why MLF? 3. Remember, Don’t use Potassium Sorbate with MLF Wine CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
Augusta Winery Chardonel This dry Chardonel offers a bouquet of apple, pear and fig with a hint of lemon. Our 2014 vintage was aged in stainless steel tanks. This leaves the wine with a crisp acidity that enhances the fruit flavors and creates a well- balanced and refreshing Chardonel. Exerpted from Agusta Winery website
TONY KOOYUMJIAN CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
Les Bourgeois Chardonel Fermentation begins in Stainless Steel tanks Wine transferred to French oak barrels (at 75% completion) Wine stays on fine lees in barrels for 4-5 months (not stirred) Racked & Filtered & Bottled. …combines crisp pear and apple aromas with light oak to create an exquisite full bodied dry white wine with a steely finish. from Les Bourgeois website & Steve spoke with Marilyn in the tasting room
Rachael Holman CEO CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles Chaumette Chardonel Chardonel for our reserve bottling is in French oak barrels, and we are in the process of bâtonnage, which means stirring the barrels once a week for the whole time the wine is in barrel. Bâtonnage is part of the sur lie process. After fermentation, the spent yeast cells drop to the bottom of the barrel, and the cellulose in the yeast cell walls starts to degrade. Through this process a number of polyphenols are released, many of which are flavor components, while others account for that wonderful creaminess that you experience with our Reserve Chardonel… Burgundian in style white wine, with aromas of peach, citrus, a hint of vanilla, and a creamy mouth feel, aged and fermented in French Oak Barrels.
Excerpted from Chaumette.com “Letter from Hank” and Chaumett Web Site
Hank Johnson, Owner CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
Favorite Style? Naked Oak Oak + MLF Favorite Wines? 1. 2. 3 CHARDONEL – Still Wine Styles
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