The 2008 Chandon Vintage Brut appeals visually with a vibrant light straw hue. At first aromas of brioche and roasted almonds are revealed from the extended yeast aging and are complimented by a fresh lifted bouquet of citrus blossom, nougat and spicy cinnamon. The complex and enticing palate starts with a bright and zesty entry reminiscent of grapefruit and citrus before opening up to a creamy and intense mid palate where warm roasted fig, quince and chestnuts meld seamlessly to a refreshing crisp and dry finish. Complex and elegant, this classic expression of the vintage is suited to quiet contemplation to joyous, spontaneous moments.

The complexity of the Vintage Brut is inherent in the diversity of cool-climate sites, including vineyards of varying altitude, age and aspect. Grapes were sourced from regions as diverse as the Yarra Valley, Strathbogie, Macedon in Victoria along with Coonawarra and Adelaide Hills (South Australia), Great Southern (Western Australia) and the Coal River Valley (Tasmania). Regional sourcing provides many different characters and flavours, adding to the complexity of the blends. Soils at these sites vary from free draining sandy loams to aged alluvial loams with high clay content. Vineyards are planted to various densities, with an average yield between 7 and 10 tonnes per hectare. Most of the selected vineyards are trained to vertical shoot positioning trellis to maintain vibrancy of flavour.

Gold Medal - 2011 National Wine Show

Like the Tasmanian Cuvee, has good mousse to its bright straw colour; more than 30 different bas wines of Pinot Noir/Pinot Meunier/Chardonnay were blended before bottling using the Traditional Method and spent over two years on lees; the fruit flavours have developed figgy, creamy characters balanced by citrussy acidity and modest dosage. 94 Points; James Halliday