Selection of potential impact odorants and sensory validation of their importance in typical chardonnay wines

The aim of the present study was to validate the joint sensory impact of target compounds on the typicality degree of wine. Target compounds were selected from previous gas chromatography-olfactometry analysis. The preliminary experiment consisted in selecting odorants thought to have a positive effect on typical Chardonnay wines. Two sets of target compounds were chosen with regard to expected relationships between their concentrations and typicality scores. Target compounds were quantified in 20 wines. The second experiment was dedicated to the sensory evaluation of aroma models obtained by supplementation in wines. Three Chardonnay wines with intermediate typicality scores were supplemented with 6- or 10-compound combinations. The typicality degree of 24 samples was assessed by expert orthonasal perception. Wines supplemented with the 6-compound combinations were judged to be intermediate, whereas wines including the 10-compound combinations were considered to be quite representative of the Chardonnay concept. Such results confirm the active contribution of the 10 combined target compounds to typical Chardonnay wines.