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Botrytis cinerea; botrytis
[boh-TRI-tihs sihn-EHR-ee-uh]

The fungus that causes botrytis bunch rot. Depending on the conditions, Botrytis cinerea can be either exceedingly beneficial or devastating to grapes. In its benevolent form, botrytis is called noble rot—and when wine writers use the term “botrytis,” they are typically referring to this form. The ideal conditions under which this beneficial mold develops include cool, misty mornings (during which the fungus grows) and warm, sunny afternoons that dry the grapes, controlling the growth of the fungus. However, if the weather’s unremittingly damp, or rains come shortly before harvest, botrytis bunch rot turns malevolent, in which case it’s known as gray rot. In such circumstances, the botrytis spores run rampant, spreading quickly throughout the grape clusters and spoiling the fruit. When carefully cultivated in its noble-rot form, Botrytis cinerea causes the grape to shrivel, concentrating and intensifying both sugar and flavor. The grape’s ACID level remains high, which prevents the resulting wines from being cloyingly sweet. Most winemakers are exhilarated when noble rot descends on their grapes because it gives them fruit from which to make very elegant, intensely flavored DESSERT WINES. In California, BOTRYTISED wines are usually referred to as LATE HARVEST or SELECT LATE HARVEST. In France, where noble rot is called pourriture noble, the best-known beneficiaries are the famous wines of SAUTERNES. Noble rot is called Edelfäule in Germany, where winemakers are experts at producing a large variety of elegant wines such as TROCKENBEERENAUSLESE and BEERENAUSLESE. The renowned Hungarian TOKAY ASZÚ is also a popular botrytis-infected wine. In Italy, Botrytis cinerea is called muffa nobile. A wide range of grape varieties are subject to the positive effects of noble rot including CHENIN BLANC, FURMINT, GEWÜRZTRAMINER, HÁRSLEVELÜ, OPTIMA, ORTEGA, RIESLING, SAUVIGNON BLANC, SCHEUREBE, and SÉMILLON.
Related Links: Aszú, Auslese, Charta, Coteaux du Layon AC, Cotnari, Weissherbst
© Copyright Barron's Educational Services, Inc.
1995 based on THE WINE LOVER'S COMPANION,
by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst.

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