Chandon Vintage Sparkling Brut 2018

Winemaking Notes
The Chandon Vintage Sparkling Brut 2018 is crafted using the méthode traditionnelle, with an extended five years' age on lees that contributes to the wine's creamy texture and layers of complexity. This extended lees contact develops the subtle nuances of nougat and marshmallow that emerge on the palate, whilst also enhancing the wine's elegant structure and persistent flavour. The fruit is sourced from Chandon's esteemed Whitlands vineyard at 850 metres elevation, where the red soil and high altitude combine to produce fruit of exceptional quality and aromatic intensity. The mountainous Strathbogie vineyard at 600 metres elevation also contributes significantly to the blend, with both sites providing the tight acidity and purity of fruit that define this vintage. A small amount of fruit from other prestigious regions is blended for additional complexity, creating a wine that showcases the best of cool-climate viticulture. The combination of high-altitude fruit, extended lees ageing, and careful blending has resulted in a sparkling wine that perfectly balances freshness and complexity, with the potential to develop further refinement over time. The méthode traditionnelle production ensures fine, persistent bubbles and exceptional integration of all components.

Vintage Conditions
The 2018 vintage provided excellent conditions for premium sparkling wine production, with the cooler climate origins reflected in the wine's harmonious balance and vibrant acidity. The high-elevation vineyards at Whitlands (850 metres) and Strathbogie (600 metres) benefited from the vintage's conditions, producing fruit with exceptional purity and concentrated aromatics whilst maintaining the natural acidity essential for premium sparkling wine. The elevation and red soil at Whitlands contributed to the development of the zesty lemon verbena and rich cumquat marmalade aromas that characterise this wine, whilst Strathbogie's mountainous terroir provided the structural backbone and crisp acidity. These cooler climate sites allowed the fruit to ripen slowly and evenly, developing the complex flavour profile of white peach, plum, and grapefruit zest that defines the palate. The vintage's conditions, combined with the five years of lees ageing, have created a wine of exceptional elegance and complexity, with a dry, lingering finish and soft acidity that celebrates the generosity of the vintage. The wine's potential for further ageing reflects both the quality of the 2018 vintage and the exceptional fruit from these prestigious high-elevation sites, promising continued development and refinement over the coming years.