Accolades

91 points Wine Spectator, March 2010 (2000 Vintage)
"Elegant and refined, with creamy lemon and almond aromas and crisp, complex pear and apple flavors that turn spicy on the finish..."

Philosophy

Chandon is proud to introduce the new shining star of its portfolio, etoile Tête de Cuvée. Like the traditional Champagne houses, Chandon offers etoile Tête de Cuvée to represent the best of its wines — literally the “head blend”. This offering embodies the commitment to making the finest sparkling wine in America by showcasing the best fruit of the vintage as a wine that improves with age. To craft this sparkling wine, Chandon’s winemakers blended the best grapes from the 2001 harvest and allowed the wine to age gracefully for a minimum of seven years on the lees. Sparkling wines are tight and austere when young, calling for extended sur lees aging to show their potential of rich flavors, layers of complexity and luxuriously creamy mouthfeel. etoile Tête de Cuvée is ready to enjoy upon release, but will continue to develop for years to come when suitably cellared. The attractive bottle is designed to reflect the elegance of the wine in the bottle, foretelling great expectations.

Tasting Notes

Tiny bubbles elevate an appealing, bouquet of marzipan, star anise, hints of tangerine zest as well as caramel and dried fig. This well-balanced and elegant wine evolves to reveal ripe flavors of red cherry, nectarine compote, subtle notes of cocoa and dried black fig. Extended time on the lees has created both an expansive, rich bodied mouthfeel and a long finish.

Food and Wine Pairing

Savor the complex flavors of this sparkler as an apéritif or pair it with richer dishes like veal, seared halibut and mushroom tart. This wine also favors fine cheeses like Tomme d’ Aquitaine or Tobar del Oso.