Traces of this vine, originating in Burgundy, were found in the Aveyron department, in crossings with the Gouais and the Saint Pierre Doré. These three grape varieties were introduced in this department a very long time ago. The seedlings preserved by the Conservatoire Régional des Cépages de Midi-Pyrénées come from a few vine stocks found in the Maubec region (Tarn-et-Garronne), in the plot of land of an old winegrower who had grafted this grape variety from Champagne, a souvenir of the First World War.
Chardonnay is a locality of Saône-et-Loire, in the linguistic area of Franc-Provençal.
Its vines produces budding with tanned patches and whole orbicular adult leaves. Sinus petiolar lyre is slightly open. Chardonnay bunches are tight with round grapes and susceptible to gray rot.
It has recently been introduced in the vineyards of the Southwest, Gers and Tarn departments in particular, for the production of “primeur” white wines.
An adaptation of this grape variety to the Southwest produces wines with a nose and aromas of fresh fruit, peaches, pineapple, with a hint of vanilla.
Another with fermentation at low temperature and maturation 3 months on lees, creates a beautifully bright robe and aromatic nose with white flowers and citrus fruits. These Chardonnays are round and honeyed in the mouth, fat and unctuous, and can improve with aging over 3 years.
Additional aromas that can be found in Chardonnay wines are of acacia, almond, toasted almond, green almond, amber, hawthorn, banana, fresh butter, brioche, cinnamon, blackcurrant, cherry, mushroom, honeysuckle, wax, lemon, leather, quince, spices, blackcurrant leaf, orange blossom, freshly cut hay, fern (light), dried fruit, fresh grass, lilac, lily, mango, marron glacé, spearmint, breadcrumbs, honey, monsoon, blackberry, hazelnut, toasted hazelnut, buttery notes, peach pit, candied orange, white nettle, buttered bread, toast, grapefruit, papaya, marzipan, white peach, rose petal, flint, pear, pepper, apple, liquorice, flint, undergrowth, elderberry, blond tobacco, lime blossom, toast, truffle, verbena, violet…
Production area en 2018: 50 600 ha (125 035 acres)
Sud Selections 