280 D. Dubourdieu and T. Tominaga
Ta b l e 8 B. 4 Volatile thiol concentrations (ng/L) in wines made from several Vitis vinifera grape
varieties (Tominaga et al. 2000)
4MSP 4MSOH 3SH 3SHAColombard
Plaimont-98 n.d. n.d. 423(7) 21(5)
Cave de Panjas-98 n.d. n.d. 1053(18) 63(15)
Petit manseng
Domaine Cauhap ́e-96 n.d. n.d. 4468(74) 101(25)
Domaine Cauhap ́e-94 3747(62)
Semillon (botrytized)
Doisy-Da ̈ene-95 40(50) 6(–) 4048(67) n.d.
Doisy-Da ̈ene-94 15(19) 13(–) 5969(99) n.d.
Doisy-Da ̈ene-90 8.5(10) n.d. 5040(84) n.d.
The number after the sample name signifies the vintage n.d.: not detected
Entries in parentheses are the aromatic index of each compound: concentration/perception
threshold
during barrel-aging, the 3SH content of red wines decreases considerably, from a
fewμg/L to 300–600 ng/L after 12 months in barrel, as it oxidizes easily and is
highly reactive with quinones.
3SH and 3SHA also contribute to the fruity aroma of some ros ́ewinesmade
from Cabernet and Merlot (Murat et al. 2001a). Protecting ros ́e wines from oxi-
dation (by aging in vat on fine lees and keeping racking to a minimum) preserves
their high thiol content. Furthermore, the protective effect of anthocyanins on the
volatile thiols in ros ́e wines has been clearly demonstrated in a model medium
(Murat et al. 2003).
Certain volatile thiols, e.g. 3SH (Tominaga et al. 2000a), 3-sulfanylpentan-1-ol
(3SPOH:XIV), and 3-sulfanylheptan-1-ol (3SHpOH:XVIII) (Sarrazin et al. 2007),
may significantly enhance the varietal aromas of botrytized sweet white wines. The
last two have pronounced aromas of citrus zest, while 3SH smells fruity. Table 8B.5
shows the concentrations of these three volatile thiols in botrytized white wines from
various Bordeaux appellations. 3SH is remarkably stable: certain great Sauternes
may still contain 5000 ng/L after aroundten years’ bottle-aging. In view of its
perception threshold (60 ng/L in a model medium), this compound has an unde-
niable impact on the fruity aroma of botrytized wines. Concentrations of 3SPOH in
Ta b l e 8 B. 5 Assay of volatile thiols (ng/L) in young botrytizedwines from various appellations of
the Bordeaux region (Sarrazin et al. 2007)
Estate Appellation Vintage 3SH 3SPOH 3SHpOH
Doisy Da ̈ene Sauternes 2001 7033 299 63
Tour Blanche Sauternes 2001 5606 217 59
Cantegrille Barsac 2001 5034 223 44
Doisy Da ̈ene Sauternes 2002 4765 203 48
Dauphin ́e Rondillon Loupiac 2002 4749 235 72
Doisy Da ̈ene Sauternes 2003 5386 199 44
Dauphin ́e Rondillon Loupiac 2003 2450 91 26