Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Correlations between N,S,O-heterocycle levels and age of Champagne base wines

Correlations between N,S,O-heterocycle levels and age of Champagne base wines

Abstract

Champagne regulation allows winegrowers to stock small amounts of still wines in order to compensate vintages’ quality shifts mainly due to climate variations. According to their technical requirements and house style some Champagne producers (commonly named “Champagne houses”) use these stored wines in the blend in order to introduce an element of complexity. These wines possess the particularity of being aged on fine lees in thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks. The Champagne house of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin has several wines stored this way. The oldest of these wines dates back to 1988. The role of lees and ageing in a low-pH (<=3) as in Champagne leads to several modifications of wine composition1. Lees are known to affect wine redox potential and liberate protein and free amino acids. These conditions combined with extended ageing result in the required environment for the Maillard chemical reaction whose aromatic molecules including sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen heterocycles (such as thiazole, furan and pyrazines derivatives) may have a sensory impact on wine2. The 50 mono-varietal wines aged from 1 to 28 years, have been provided by Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin wherein some wines aromatic heterocycles were determined by the SPME-GC-MS method3. To identify any possible correlation between these aromatic compounds end their precursors, 21 amino acids were determined by HPLC-fluorimetry method4. The most interesting result highlights a strong correlation between certain heterocycle concentrations and age of wine. That suggests these compounds as potential indicators of lees ageing. As such they can be considered as potential key compounds of the bouquet of aged Champagnes. The principle outcome of these assays has revealed for the first time in Champagne base wines that aromatic heterocycles concentration are correlated with wine age.

1. Alexandre, H. & Guilloux-Benatier, M. Yeast autolysis in sparkling wine – A review. Aust. J. Grape Wine Res. 12, 119–127 (2006). 2. Marchand, S., De Revel, G. & Bertrand, A. Approaches to wine aroma: Release of aroma compounds from reactions between cysteine and carbonyl compounds in wine. J. Agric. Food Chem. 48, 4890–4895 (2000). 3. Burin, V. M., Marchand, S., De Revel, G. & Bordignon-Luiz, M. T. Development and validation of method for heterocyclic compounds in wine: Optimization of HS-SPME conditions applying a response surface methodology. Talanta 117, 87–93 (2013). 4. Pripis-Nicolau, L., De Revel, G., Marchand, S., Beloqui, A. A. & Bertrand, A. Automated HPLC method for the measurement of free amino acids including cysteine in musts and wines; first applications. J. Sci. Food Agric. 81, 731–738 (2001).

Publication date: May 17, 2024

Issue: Macrowine 2016

Type: Poster

Authors

Nicolas Le Menn*, Delphine Laborde, DEMARVILLE Dominique, Gilles De Revel, Richard Marchal, Stéphanie Marchand

*ISVV

Contact the author

Tags

IVES Conference Series | Macrowine | Macrowine 2016

Citation

Related articles…

Trans-resveratrol concentrations in wines Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile

This study evaluated the levels of trans-resveratrol in commercial wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from different valleys of Chile stilbenes. The Cabernet Sauvignon is the most planted variety in Chile, being 38% of the total vineyard country. Chile is the fourth largest wine exporter in the world, so it is important to evaluate the Cabernet-Sauvignon wines in their concentration levels of trans-resveratrol and its relation to the benefits provided to human health in moderate consumption. Evaluation comprises commercial wines from different valleys of Chile and its relationship with climatic characteristics, soil and vineyard handling.

How do different oak treatment affect the sensory composition of Chenin blanc wines over time?

Wooden barrels have been the preferred method for oak maturation for wines, but the use of alternative oak products, such as staves and oak chips have increased in South Africa due to lower production costs. This study investigated the effect of different oak products used during fermentation and ageing on the sensory profile, degree of liking and perceived quality of a South African Chenin blanc wine. The different wine treatments included an unoaked tank control wine, wines matured in 5th fill barrels, wines matured in new barrels from three different cooperages, and wines matured in 5th fill barrels with stave inserts from two different cooperages.

Proteomic and activity characterization of exocellular laccases from three Botrytis cinerea strains

Botrytis cinerea is a fungus that causes common infection in grapes and other fruits. In winemaking, its presence can be both considered desirable in the case of noble rot infection or undesirable when grey rot is developed. This fungus produces an extracellular enzyme known as laccase which is able to cause oxidation of phenolic compounds present in must and wine, causing most of the times a decrease in its quality and problems during the winemaking process [1]. Material and methods: Three B. cinerea strains (B0510, VA612 and RM344) were selected and grown in a liquid medium adapted from one previously described [2]. The enzyme was isolated by tangential ultrafiltration of the culture medium using a QuixStand system equipped with a 30 KDa filtration membrane.

Impact of non-fruity compounds on red wines fruity aromatic expression: the role of higher alcohols

A part, at least, of the fruity aroma of red wines is the consequence of perceptive interactions between various aromatic compounds, particularly ethyl esters and acetates, which may contribute to the perception of fruity aromas, specifically thanks to synergistic effects.1,2 The question of the indirect impact of non-fruity compounds on this particular aromatic expression has not yet been widely investigated. Among these compounds higher alcohols (HA) represent the main group, from a quantitative standpoint, of volatiles in many alcoholic beverages. Moreover, some bibliographic data suggested their contribution to the aromatic complexity by either increasing or masking flavors of wine, depending of their concentrations.

Update knowledge about the presence of condensed tannins in grapes and their contributions to astringency perception

Condensed tannin is a principle group of polyphenol compounds derived from grape, greatly contributing to the bioactivity and the sensory perception of wine. Condensed tannins present as a heterogeneous mixture in nature involving various degrees of both polymerization and galloylation. Even though multiple attempts focusing on fractionation of grape condensed tannins by solid-phase have been conducted over the past decades, few individual tannins have been purified and identified. Hence, our knowledge on grape and wine condensed tannin moleculars has to be limited at the several known monomeric, dimeric and trimeric proanthocyanidins