Chandon Vintage Blanc de Noirs 2015

We don’t often see Blanc de Noir Sparkling wines in this country. Chardonnay is such a local speciality that there are not many winemakers willing to cast it off and go it alone with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. But when done well, Blanc de Noirs can be very serious wines that are tasty young but also can handle a couple of years in bottle.

This wine, with four years already under its belt and made with fruit from the cooler Upper Yarra, is a great example. It is pale golden in colour and is packed full of complex aromas and flavours – buttered toast, a touch of butter and raspberry fruit is powerful and is matched by a creamy but crisp palate. It is big for a sparkling wine in the Blanc de Noir style but also has great finesse and fruit depth. Delicious now and in the medium term.