Philosophy

While Domaine Chandon is best known as one of America's top sparkling wine houses, we also produce limited quantities of still wines from our estate grown vineyards. We craft these wines by drawing on our experience with the traditional champagne varieties and by showcasing select parcels from our Carneros ranch, where we were pioneering growers and vintners of the region.
The Carneros terrain is marked by well-drained, rolling hills sloping to the 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 providing 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.  As a signature of its Carneros appellation, the wine’s mineral aromas remain lifted by balanced acidity.  When harvesting at optimal ripeness, characters of white Burgundy are revealed in the wine as subtle, yet present, with the oak being perfectly integrated.  Fuji apple, lemon and other citrus flavors create a satisfying, seamless palate that finishes with notes of white peach and apricot.

Food and Wine Pairing

The depth of this versatile, food-friendly Chardonnay makes it a natural match for hearty seafood dishes like grilled salmon or halibut. Pair it with roasted chicken or with a Chinese chicken salad for a lighter meal.