Champagne & Sparkling    Rosé    Carneros    California   
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My Rating (circle) :
Date Printed: 1/9/2009
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(search item no. 511)
The Wine News rating: 90 points
PRICE ON 1/9/2009: $18.79

Winemaker's Notes:

This Carneros-designated Blanc de Noirs has a delicate copper color and fruit aromas of strawberry and cherry overlaid with warm cocoa from Pinot Noir. Its softer cousin Pinot Meunier contributes a warm spice, almost clove character with overtones of orange peel and freshly baked bread. To enhance this Cuvee 391, wines from the 1991 vintage were blended with selected 'vin de reserve' held back from previous years. 1991 was characterized by cool conditions during maturation and harvest, critical to flavor development for sparkling wine. Three years of aging lends this wine breadth and body, while retaining its freshness and fruitiness. The balance is stylishly crisp, reflecting the Carneros region's full ripe flavors.

"Light gold hue. Forward apple and ginger scents show a defined earthiness. Creamy flavors of orange, butternut, pecan and vanilla. Long close is round and smooth."
-Wine News

My Notes:

Additional wines from Domaine Chandon:

About Domaine Chandon:

Located in Yountville in the Napa Valley, Domaine Chandon was the first French-owned winery in California producing sparkling wines. Since its inception in 1973, Chandon has been recognized as an innovator in quality, style and production techniques while demonstrating its strong leadership position within the "méthode traditionnelle" sparkling wine industry. Chandon was the first California winery to use exclusively Napa Valley Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for all their sparkling wines, and the first to back blend reserve wines in all their cuvées to maintain consistency of style and quality.

Domaine Chandon's California vineyards have, for the past 25 years, pursued a rigorous vineyard management policy for making world-class sparkling wines. They have access to the best land — through direct ownership and long-term contracts — and the use of the best clones. Chandon's experience and ability as a grape grower have proven that the winery can grow fruit with perfect, mature varietal character as well as to its own specifications. The result today is an extensive network of owned and contracted vineyards in Napa and in Sonoma. This wonderful diversity of grape procurement and clones adds to the complexity and depth of Chandon's wines.