A sensory, chemical and consumer study of the peppery typicality of French gamay wines from cool-climate vineyards

Abstract

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Aim</strong>: Within the protected designation of origin (PDO) Côtes d’Auvergne, Gamay N wines express unique peppery notes that may reflect high levels of rotundone. We investigated the typicality of these wines by determining their sensory, chemical and consumer profiles.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Methods and results</strong>: Twenty-one Gamay N wines from the 2013 vintage from four French wine-growing areas were assessed by a trained sensory panel (n = 8). Principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering of olfactory data were used to describe differences among regions and to select four wines for a consumer study (n = 87). Gamay N wines from Auvergne had more intense peppery notes and higher rotundone concentrations, two characteristics that showed a significant positive correlation. The large variability in rotundone among the 12 wines from Auvergne was attributed to ethanol content, which was correlated to the rotundone levels in the wines. Those who appreciate wines with a peppery sensory profile were generally managers and professionals who are willing to pay more for a bottle of wine.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Conclusion</strong>: There were differences in sensory profile and rotundone concentrations in Gamay N wines from cool-climate vineyards. We also identified the consumption profile of those who appreciate peppery wines.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Significance and impact of the study</strong>: Our results provide a scientific foundation for Auvergne grape growers to promote the typicality of their wines. This research also identifies the key elements for developing the Côtes d’Auvergne wine range and adapting products to consumer profiles.</p>

Can a certain concentration of rotundone be undesirable in Duras red wine? A study to estimate a consumer rejection threshold for the pepper aroma compound

“…This opposition of appreciation between young (18–24 years) and older (>55 years) consumers is particularly marked for the 100 ng/L series, a common level of rotundone concentration found in Duras wine. In accordance with previous studies conducted on Gamay wines (Geffroy et al ), these findings suggest that winemakers should promote moderate to significant levels of rotundone in their Duras wine unless the product is specifically targeted to young consumers.…”

“…Shiraz). Up to now, it has been identified in a wide range of grape cultivars including Pinot Noir, Durif, Graciano and Riesling (Herderich et al ), Duras (Geffroy et al ), Gamay (Geffroy et al ), Malbec and Abouriou (Cullere et al ) and Vespolina, Schioppettino and Grüner Veltliner (Caputi et al ). Recent research showed that two key polymorphisms in a newly discovered allele of the V. vinifera TPS24 gene were responsible for the production of α‐guaiene (Drew et al ).…”

“…Specific anosmia has been reported for rotundone (Wood et al ), and during the first sensory trials, 20–25% of panellists could not detect this compound at high concentration in water. A significant correlation (r 2 = 0.66) was identified between peppery aroma scores and rotundone concentration in 21 Gamay wines (Geffroy et al ). During the same study on consumer preference, the cluster of consumers who preferred peppery wines frequently rated a wine with an amylic note as the least appreciated and vice versa.…”

On-vine grape drying combined with irrigation allows to produce red wines with enhanced phenolic and rotundone concentrations

“…It has been identified in Pinot Noir, Durif, Graciano, Riesling (Herderich et al, 2012) and more recently in other cultivars such as Duras (Geffroy et al, 2014), Gamay (Geffroy et al, 2016), and Malbec, Abouriou (Cullere et al, 2016) grown in France under cool or Atlantic climate conditions. Differences in rotundone concentrations in wines made from four Duras certified clones suggest that rotundone was involved in the vine's natural response to powdery mildew attacks (Geffroy et al, 2015b).…”

Using common viticultural practices to modulate the rotundone and 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine composition of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Fer N red wines from a temperate climate wine region with very cool nights

“…In addition to Fer, IBMP has been identified in cultivars mainly from the Carmenets group such as Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc (Allen et al, 1995;Hashizume and Umeda 1996). Rotundone has been found in in a wide range of varieties, including Pinot Noir, Durif, Graciano and Riesling (Herderich et al, 2012), Duras (Geffroy et al, 2014), Gamay (Geffroy et al, 2016a), Malbec and Abouriou (Cullere et al, 2016) and Vespolina, Schioppettino and Grüner Veltliner (Caputi et al, 2011).…”