7 Splendid Chandon Brut Sparkling Wines: Prices, Tasting Notes (2024)

Domaine Chandon (or Chandon Estates) is one of the first French-owned sparkling wine makers in the US. It is situated in Yountville of Napa Valley and the grapes are sourced from several AVA’s in the region.

It has a distinguished history of producing premium sparkling wines that perfectly capture California’s vibrant regional character. 

Let’s explore the delightful range of Chandon Brut sparkling wines and take a sneak peek at how these delicious Napa Valley sparkling wines are made.

7 Vivacious Chandon Brut Sparkling Wines

Here are the fizzy Chandon Brut sparkling wines from Napa Valley’s Domaine Chandon: 

• Chandon Etoile Brut
• Chandon Reserve Brut 
• Chandon Mt. Veeder Brut 
• Chandon Yountville Brut 
• Chandon Vintage Carneros Brut 
• Chandon By the Bay 
• Chandon Brut 

1. Domaine Chandon Etoile Brut ($40)

Etoile is one of Chandon’s premium sparkling wines, showcasing the classic Chandon expression.

Made from only the best lots of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes, this Chandon sparkling wine undergoes extended aging, giving it a unique complexity. 

It has a light golden hue in the glass with delectable complex apple aromas and a hint of ginger and spicy vanilla. The palate is complex with tart apple, yeast, almond notes, and zesty acidity. 

Pair a glass of this delicious California sparkling wine with a delicate dish with a subtle flavor like oysters, mussels, or fresh sashimi. 

2. Domaine Chandon Reserve Brut ($20)

This Chandon California brut wine undergoes primary fermentation in stainless steel tanks followed by 45% malolactic fermentation. 

Extended time on its lees gives this sparkling wine a good complexity and nutty flavors that balance its black cherry cream, citrus, and tart apple notes. 

A wine enthusiast will find this wine perfect with almost any dish. For a truly excellent experience, have a glass of Reserve Brut with fried calamari, clams, or a caesar salad.

3. Domaine Chandon Vintage Mt. Veeder Brut

Grown on Chandon’s highest-elevation Mt. Veeder vineyard, this single-vineyard sparkling wine offers a rich and generous nose of mellow spices, fresh apple, and citrus. A bright and creamy palate with notes of brioche and nougat. 

Pair this exotic wine with a caesar salad, nutty foods, mussels, or clams.

Best wines: 

• 2015 Vintage Mt. Veeder Brut ($50): A wine enthusiast will notice hints of brioche and nougat and a long and refreshing finish. 

• 2014 Vintage Mt. Veeder Brut ($50): The wine has a lemon peel and baked apple flavor and a creamy palate. 

4. Chandon Yountville Brut

This Chandon California brut offers a complex nose of toasty lemon notes, fig, and cocoa, leading to a layered palate of fresh apple, brioche, citrus spice, and subtle yeast notes. 

This versatile Chandon complements garlic dishes, nutty foods, and seafood like fried calamari. 

Best Wines: 

• 2015 Vintage Yountville Brut ($50): This Domaine Chandon wine has a layered palate of fig, plum, and candied ginger with hints of yeast. 

• 2013 Vintage Yountville Brut ($50): This nose gives off ripe fruit aromas with ginger nuances. 

5. Chandon Vintage Carneros Brut

Made with a blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay, and 10% Meunier grapes, this vintage Chandon offers good complexity and unparalleled vibrancy.

This bright and lively California sparkling wine offers a nose of ripe fruit and toasty lemon notes. Crisp acidity balances the flavor of cherry cream, citrus spice, and green apple.

Pair it with green papaya salad, barbequed salmon, and fish tacos.

Best Wines: 

• 2015 Vintage Carneros Brut ($50): It is a lively wine with cherry and rhubarb flavors, crisp acidity, and a lengthy finish. 

• 2014 Vintage Carneros Brut ($50): The wine has ginger, hazelnuts, and bright mineral notes. 

6. Chandon By the Bay Reserve ($30)

Chandon’s ode to Chardonnay, this award-winning California sparkling wine comprises 92% Chardonnay and 8% Pinot Blanc. 

This brut sparkling wine is partially fermented in French oak barrels (15% of the base wine.)

The wine has bright white flowers, lemon, complex apple, grapefruit, and brioche aromas and a zesty palate. 

Pair this wine with scallops, oysters, or risotto and garlic dishes. 

7. Chandon Brut ($20)

Chandon’s hallmark wine style, Chandon Brut offers nutty flavors with hints of brioche and mellow spices and a refreshingly dry finish. 

Aromas of ripe fruit, lemon, green apple, and chalk will mark an excellent beginning to every dinner. 

Let’s take a quick look at how Chandon sparkling wine is made. 

How Is Chandon Brut Sparkling Wine Made?

Chandon combines French tradition with modern winemaking to produce exotic sparklers using grapes sourced from over 1,000 acres of Californias vineyards.

Winemaker Wayne Donaldson harvests the grapes at night to capture the fruit’s fresh acidity. 

Further, modern presses limit the juice’s contact with the grape skins, and primary fermentation in stainless steel tanks captures the wine’s natural fruity flavor.

Assemblage occurs in the winter, followed by secondary fermentation in the bottle. The wine is aged for at least 12 months on its lees which adds complexity. 

Add a Charming Bottle of Chandon Brut to Your Collection!

If you’re looking for a lively California bubbly, you can’t go wrong with a Chandon brut classic. 

Alternatively, if you’re looking for some cellar-worthy wines, check out Vinovest that will help you buy, sell, and store investment-grade wines from around the world.