Which wines commonly benefit from lees stirring to add texture?

• A. Aged whites like Chardonnay or Montrachet-style wines.
• B. Sparkling wines only.
• C. Fortified wines only.
• D. Rosé wines.

Answer: (A)

Lees stirring adds texture by keeping wine in contact with dead yeast cells, promoting autolysis and releasing compounds that thicken the mouthfeel and soften acidity. This practice is most commonly associated with aged white wines, especially Chardonnay and Montrachet-style wines, where sur lie aging and occasional bâtonnage produce a creamy, rounded texture and flavors such as biscuit and nutty notes. While lees contact can be used in other styles to add complexity, the classic and widely recognized case for texture comes from these Chardonnay-based whites. Fortified wines and rosé are not typically aged on lees to achieve texture to the same extent, so they rely on different stylistic approaches.