Philosophy

Domaine Chandon is best known as one of America’s top sparkling wines. Less known is the winery also produces limited quantities of varietal wines from our estate vineyards. These wines are crafted by drawing on experience with the traditional Champagne varietals and by showcasing select parcels from its Carneros ranch, where Domaine Chandon was among the pioneering growers and vintners of the region.

The Carneros terrain is marked by well-drained, rolling hills sloping to San Pablo Bay. The proximity of the bay moderates the vineyard microclimate with morning and evening fog and afternoon breezes. The cool, extended growing season is ideal for Chardonnay and provides longer hang time essential for complexity, finesse and intense aromatics and flavor.

Vintage Notes

A dry and cold spring coupled with a warm summer produced low yields.  Early frosts also contributed to lower yields in some vineyards, causing the entire crop to be down 20-50%.  The 90-degree temperatures in early September ripened the crop nicely, ensuring that quality of our Chardonnay grapes was exceptional.

Tasting Notes

The wine’s aroma is fresh and structured with floral notes highlighted by elderflower. White peach, Asian pear and apple flavors dominate the crisp, fruity palate. As this wine ages in the bottle it will develop greater richness and lusciousness, while retaining its bright acidity and floral and fruit character.

Food and Wine Pairing

The depth of this versatile, food-friendly Chardonnay makes it a natural match for all kinds of seafood dishes like grilled salmon or halibut. It also pairs well with a range of dishes from roast chicken to butter lettuce salad with cambozola cheese toasts.