The term “minerality” is frequently used to describe high-quality still-white wines from cooler regions, such as Chablis. However, its sensory meaning and the factors responsible for its presence in wine are debated. This study aimed to explore the concept of minerality by analysing 16 542 Chablis Premier Cru tasting notes from CellarTracker, spanning from 2003 to 2022. The analysis was paired with data on weather, topography, and soil from the Chablis area to assess whether consumer wine notes support any existing theories about the source of minerality.
Project Layout
The study utilised textual analysis of tasting notes to identify trends in the usage of the term “minerality” and its association with other wine characteristics. Key hypotheses included the associations of minerality with acidity, shellfish, reduction, fruit and floral characteristics, and the influence of factors like geology, weather, and vineyard slopes. The study also investigated whether minerality in Chablis wine is influenced by vineyard location relative to the river Serein.
Main Results
The top descriptors for Chablis Premier Cru wine were citrus, minerality, and acidity. Mentions of minerality decreased over the years, while mentions of acidity, salinity, and fruit characteristics increased. Consumers primarily associated minerality with “stony” perceptions and secondarily with “saline” and “seashell” perceptions. The study found that minerality was negatively correlated with growing season temperature, sunshine hours and vineyard aspect (negatively with the percentage of vineyard area facing south or southwest) but not with the Kimmeridgian soil type. The hypothesis that minerality is driven by vintage weather was supported, while no evidence was found linking minerality with soils and geology.
Conclusions
Minerality in Chablis wine appears to be more influenced by vintage weather conditions, particularly cooler growing seasons, rather than by soil or geology. The decline in the use of the term “minerality” may be due to climate change, changing consumer preferences, and the adoption of alternative descriptors like “saline.” Textual analysis of CellarTracker notes provided valuable insights into the perception and sources of minerality, offering useful information for wine industry professionals, consumers, and winemakers aiming to understand or produce mineral wines.
Reference
Biss, A. J., & Ellis, R. H. (2023). Minerality in Wine: Textual Analysis of Chablis Premier Cru Tasting Notes. Australian Journal of Grape and Wine Research, 2024(1), 4299446. https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/4299446
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