Wild Ferment Wines? Worth the time and money or not?!
Wild Ferment Wines? Worth the time and money or not?
Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay and Yalumba Eden Valley
Wild Ferment Chardonnay, great wines, unique flavours from other Chardonnays. Do the wild Yeasts account for this or the Winemakers style?
Answers:
I suppose that in the case of Chardonnay, the type of yeast used can make a great difference because the wine is often aged on its lees, and even the malolactic fermentation can be done in the presence of the dead yeast cells.
In addition, there will be unique and variable effects on the fermentation process relating to the type of yeast. Wineries using cultured yeasts are able to establish a more consistent primary fermentation in terms of temperature, alcohol content, etc.
I'm not sure, but I always figured that any pinot noir producer that employs the traditional whole cluster fermentation or carbonic maceration process would automatically use the native yeasts on the grape skins to initiate fermentation.
I have tried the Errazuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2001 on two occasions. On both, I found it to be a well made pinot for the price (about $27) but nothing stunning.
I have yet to try the Chardonnay.
Cheers!
Wild Fermented wines are more of a novelty.....
It is a way for wine makers to show off and tell everyone.....Look at the Control I have over this process.
The risks with wild fermentation are many....here are some..
.....containers exploding(uncontrolled yeast growth)
....flat , bland wines with not enough development
.....vinegary wines
it takes a good wine maker to control the processes....and all these "wild Fermented" wines are quite Boutique and start with very select grapes...sOooo..the wine maker WANTS to do well with them.
What you are getting is a product with more time and attention involved....and thus.....a Higher price tag attatched because of it.
My take on this(and any wine for that matter) is ....if you like it and can afford it...Drink the Heck out of it!
Enjoy!