chardonnay - why do 2009s suddenly taste more acidic?

[Anonymous]

I am not an expert about wine (obviously), so some info please. I had been enjoying 2009 Chardonnays for the last several months. Now they taste a bit acidic to me. Could it be they are getting a little old? And time to move to 2010?

[Anonymous]

Any chance you're pregnant, or started /changed medicines? I've had both those things alter my taste perceptions. Otherwise no words of wisdom (unless you've also changed vineyards.)

[Anonymous]

I have noticed this too -- Chardonnays aren't as buttery as they have been. Must be the year.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks. But the same ones (same vineyard, same year) taste worse. I've not changed medicines and no to the pregnancy. So could it be they are just older - the vintage is getting old (sorry if that is not the right way to put it)?

[Anonymous]

Many vineyards are going away from overly "oaky" Chardonnay which would be what makes them more buttery as a PP said, some are unoaked and aged in stainless steel or a combination of both. Are you drinking the same name/brand and noticed a difference in a particular one or you just think in general thy all taste different? Are these bottles you have stored at your house or are you buying them regularly? Go to a store where you can taste different wines before you buy them, or bring it up with a sales person, they might be able to help you find something you may like better.

[Anonymous]

Thanks - no, it is the same brand, same vintage (2 kinds). both are buttery, which I like but understand is going out of vogue. But there should have been no change within the 2009 vintage from the same vineyard. That is why I am wondering if the 2009s are just getting a little old.

Thx re suggestion about finding new ones.

[Anonymous]

It is the stainless steel casks. Welcome to modern winery. One of the vestiges of the Clinton era I'm afraid, is the tariff on foreign wine and motorcycles. Sucks. Americans use crappy steel to make the wine and the motorcycles, I'm afraid.

[Anonymous]

So your theory is they switched to stainless steel half-way through the 2009 vintage? OP's having a hard time getting a basic question answered - are 2009s getting old?

[Anonymous]

Whites as a general rule don't age as well as reds. If it (I presume) has been sitting in the bottle since 2009, drink it.

Stainless steel vs oak is a matter of winemaker preference (and cost, fine), but drive an hour out into VA wine country and you'll find most winemakers will have some oaked and some unoaked. Some will use barrels, and some cheat and add oak chips to stainless steel vats. All affect the crispness vs butteryness of the chardonnay.