Methyl Salicylate, an Odor-Active Compound in Bordeaux Red Wines Produced without Sulfites Addition

Red wines produced without the addition of any SO₂ are currently the source of a new consumer trend. The first characterization approaches regarding these specific wines were devoted to sensory studies that highlighted differences according to the use of SO₂ during winemaking. The goal of this paper is to extend our knowledge of such aromatic specificities. Examining experimental wines produced with and without the addition of SO₂, aroma fractionation, gas chromatography coupled with olfactometry, and mass spectrometry were applied to identify compounds at the origin of the specificities of these wines. Thus, we identified methyl salicylate as being impacted by the use of SO₂ during the winemaking process. Studying a large number of commercial Bordeaux red wines, methyl salicylate was significantly quantified at a higher content in wines without added SO₂. A sensory approach revealed a significant impact of methyl salicylate on wines without the sulfite aroma, particularly concerning fruity aromas and wine freshness.