all about chardonnay
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Welcome to Comptoir des Millésimes, your online wine shop from rare wines and vintage grands crus. Our guide to the famous Chardonnay grape variety. All you need to know about Chardonnay will be present. Enjoy your reading.

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What is Chardonnay?

Visit Chardonnay is one of the most widely planted grape varieties in the world. In America, Chardonnay is found in Argentina, Chile, Canada and California. Vines are also found in Germany, Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. In all these countries, Chardonnay has adapted to very different terroirs and climates.
Noble, complex and endowed with interesting aromatic power, it delights winemakers, sommeliers and connoisseurs alike thanks to its suitability with many dishes from around the world.

 

ITS ORIGINS

Like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay probably comes from Burgundy, and more precisely from the Mâconnais vineyards. It belongs to the Noirien family. It has been shown to be the result of a cross between Pinot and Gouais (a white grape variety with white juice).

 

IN THE VINEYARD

Chardonnay is a relatively early grape variety. Like its father Pinot Noir, it fears spring frosts. It also fears soils that are too fertile, leading to excessive vegetation and the appearance of grey rot. This is why it prefers limestone or marl soils, which are not very fertile.
The variety is sensitive to oidium and flavescence dorée, and can be subject to run-off and millerandage in dry periods.

 

CHARDONNAY AROMAS

Visit Chardonnay is endowed with enormous potential, allowing full expression of the winemaker and the climate where he is located.
In cold climates, Chardonnay tends to produce dry, fresh wines with citrus and apple notes.
In warmer climates, wines will be richer, with a more exotic aromatic palette.
Finally, in temperate climates, Chardonnay expresses white fruit and floral notes.
A period in oak barrels can give the wine toasty, toasted or spicy notes such as vanilla. It will also give depth to the wine, enabling it to strike a better balance with the acidity of the wine, and therefore greater ageing potential.

 

CHARDONNAY IN FRANCE

In France, Chardonnay is the fifth most planted grape variety with 50,600 hectares of vines.

  • Visit ChampagneChardonnay is one of the three main grape varieties used in Champagne blends. It accounts for 29% of the vines planted in the region, but the vast majority are found on the Côte des Blancs. The soils are very chalky, allowing good water distribution. Chardonnay brings finesse and delicacy when blended with Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier, but can also be vinified as a single grape variety. Champagne is then called "Blanc de Blancs", because its juice is white and comes from white grapes. These Champagnes are very complex and full-bodied, and depending on the ageing process, may have a "vinous" aspect, i.e. resemble wine.

 

  • Visit BurgundyThis is the region's king grape variety. It is from this grape that all the great white wines of Burgundy are made, such as Chablisthe Meursaultthe Puligny-Montrachetthe Rully...
    With the exception of the Côtes-de-Nuits, where almost exclusively red wines are produced, Chardonnay is well represented throughout the rest of Burgundy. In the Chablis region, Kimmeridgian soils lend tension and minerality to the wines. Chablis will be the most floral, with a slightly lemony finish. In Côtes-de-Beaune, Chardonnay expresses itself with a different texture. Fatter and rounder, with buttery notes, the wines are among the world's finest. In Côte Chalonnaise, Chardonnay expresses all its exuberance. Still with a hint of minerality, but fruitier and richer on the palate.

 

  • In the LoireChardonnay is not the main grape variety. It represents only 8% of the vines planted in the region. Better known as Auvernat, it is used to blend Crémant-de-Loire, Saumur blanc and IGP Val-de-Loire. As usual, it is planted on poor, chalky soils to bring out the best in the grapes.

 

  • In the JuraAlthough not the region's flagship grape variety, Chardonnay remains the region's leading white grape variety, accounting for 50% of planted vines. It is often found on limestone or marl soils, and brings fruitiness and suppleness.

 

  • It can also be found in other regions, in the blending of certain appellations, such as Blanquette de Limoux in Languedoc.

 

CHARDONNAY FOOD AND WINE PAIRINGS

It's surely one of the most popular grape varieties in the world, both among wine lovers and sommeliers, as it offers a fantastic playground for food and wine pairings.
As an aperitif, an IGP Val-de-Loire will offer a round, fruity white wine. Easy to drink, it won't overpower cold meats, salmon toast or chunks of cheese.
With sushi, Chablis is ideal for Chinese dishes. The palate opens with white fruit and floral notes, and the lemony finish will give the fish a boost to accompany the iodized notes.
The great white wines of Burgundy, such as Meursault Chassagne-Montrachet... can accompany many dishes. For a festive meal, they can be paired with foies gras. They can also enhance white-fleshed fish such as sole meunière. The finesse of the wine will allow the fish to express itself, while at the same time combining with the wine's mineral notes. Some sommeliers don't hesitate to pair very fat, opulent whites with stuffed poultry. The fat, round texture and mushroom notes, which are evolutionary notes in certain Chardonnays, are reminiscent of the terroir of poultry.

 

Some great Charadonnay-based references

Visit Latour family is one of Burgundy's finest négociants. Founded in 1797, Louis Fabrice Latour now represents the 11th generation of the family. Premier Cru Perrières is planted on deep, stony soils, giving the Chardonnay power and density. Buttery and floral with very mineral notes, it can now be enjoyed with a Bresse chicken, for example. A superb Chardonnay white wine.

> Grandes cuvées de Louis Latour en provenance domaine

 

Considered one of the best by his peers, the Raveneau estate is one of the most sought-after estates in Chablis. Its viticulture is respectful of the environment and traditional. Le Clos Grand Cru is located between Valmur and Blanchot. It is powerful and highly aromatic, with toasty, white-fruit notes and a fresh finish. Its saline notes are the perfect accompaniment to salt-crusted salmon. A great Chardonnay Blanc.

> Our Chablis wines in stock

 

Thanks for reading! We hope you now know all about Chardonnay; how to match it with your dishes; how to enjoy a Chardonnay; and how to enjoy a Chardonnay. which Chardonnay-based cuvées to choose ? Read our other grape variety guides on the Comptoir des Millésimes blog.

> Varietal guides

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