1990 Domaine Chandon Blanc de Noir 90-3

DOMAINE CHANDON – THE SECRET MUSEUM COLLECTION

Domaine Chandon is Australia’s foremost sparkling wine producer. During a conversation on the high costs of sparkling wine production, Chandon’s financial controller, Rob Peebles, let out that a number of wines from the best vintages had been set aside and deliberately “lost”. This smelt too much like a private cache of top wine set aside for Directors - the catch was how to get hold of it! We had a lucky break, Dr. Tony Jordan was in France and winemaker, Wayne Donaldson was recently promoted to run Chandon California. The person left in charge of this “museum” was a financial controller and Peebles’ only passion in life is money. (It’s so easy to deal with people when there are no emotions attached.) A deal was done - on the condition that we had to taste everything first and subject to quality we would proceed. Let us say, we have not been disappointed.

A fuller style sparkling wine made from 100% Pinot Noir. Bright straw colour, very fine bead, not as persistent as the other wines show, but more than satisfactory. The nose is a little restrained with biscuit and yeast autolysis aromas evident on the nose. The palate is fuller, slightly broader and without the great length that the tri-varietal blend wines have. Creamy palate texture, perfectly balanced acidity. Cellar 2-3 years.