Chandon
Non-vintage Sparkling Wine
"Étoile Tête de Cuvée - extended sur lies aging"
Napa Valley AVA
Auction 30 | Lot No. 15
Vintage: Non-vintage
Chandon
Sparkling Wine
Napa Valley
10 cases produced
Highlights
- Intense complexity balanced by elegant richness
- Our finest 2011 estate 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, from Los Carneros, Yountville and Mt Veeder
- Baked apple, black tea, Meyer lemon peel, nutmeg and dried herbs
- Our head blend crafted with expertise of Méthode Traditionnelle with 14 years sur lie aging
Description
Introducing the 2011 Étoile Tête de Cuvée, a masterful sparkling wine blending 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir from the Los Carneros, Yountville, and Mt. Veeder appellations. Crafted only in exceptional years, this cuvée embodies intense complexity balanced by elegant richness. Aged 14 years sur lie using the Méthode Traditionnelle, it achieves remarkable depth, finesse, and ageability, possessing exceptional energy and tension. The winner of this lot is invited to join Director of Winemaking Pauline Lhote for the dosage trial of this rare, estate-crafted sparkling wine, culminating in a truly one-of-a-kind experience to be part of our estate’s storied history.
Wine Facts
- Sustainably produced
- Wine is 100% estate grown and bottled
Pauline Lhote
Winemaker, Chandon
As director of winemaking at Chandon, Pauline Lhote is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day cellar operations, including tirage, crush, blending and dosage trials.
To say that Pauline is passionate about Champagne is an understatement. She grew up in Champagne, knew she wanted to make Champagne from an early age and chose her higher education based on attaining that goal.
While earning a National Diploma of Winemaking in Reims, Champagne, Pauline gained hands-on experience at Moet & Chandon where she performed maturity controls, winemaking trials and cellar work. Her work there in 2004 coincided with the Champagne house's increased focus on crafting rose champagnes, so she spent time creating red wines used in producing rose sparkling wines, including the coveted Dom Perignon Rose.
In 2005, Pauline took her experience to another esteemed Champagne producer, Nicolas Feuillatte, as consulting winemaker, making reds for rose sparklers in addition to creating more base wines, performing dosage trials and learning the art of blending.
Pauline then felt an urge to have international winemaking experience but remaining true to her Champagne roots, she set her sights on Domaine Chandon in the Napa Valley, the first French-owned sparkling wine house in California. Pauline arrived in Yountville for a three-month contract in late 2006, fell in love with Napa Valley and stayed.
Today, Pauline leads the winemaking team in crafting America's premier sparkling wines.
Country born: France
Education: National Diploma of Winemaking
Years in the wine industry: 15-20 years
Winemaking Philosophy:
I grew up in Champagne, knew I wanted to make Sparkling wine since I was 14... love the complexity around the Sparkling process. My winemaking philiosophy: let the terroir and fruit expression shine.
Lakeshore Sport & Fitness
1320 West Fullerton
Chicago IL 60614
312-730-7333
Other Premiere Napa Valley Wines available from Lakeshore Sport & Fitness:
| Winery | Vintage | Variety | Appellation | Fanciful | Auction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutherford Hill Winery | 2023 | Red Table Wine | Napa Valley | The Vista | 29 (2025) |
| STEREOGRAPH | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | 29 (2025) | |
| VGS Chateau Potelle | 2023 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | 40th Anniversary Cuvée | 29 (2025) |
| Baldacci Family Vineyards | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Napa Valley | Valley's Beauty | 28 (2024) |
| Gamble Family Vineyards | 2022 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Oakville | New Beginnings 2.0 | 28 (2024) |
| Cliff Lede Vineyards | 2021 | Cabernet Sauvignon | Stags Leap District | Bohemian Thrill | 27 (2023) |
| Hyde Vineyard Estate | 2022 | Pinot Noir | Los Carneros | 27 (2023) |
Winery Distribution
Chandon is distributed in the following markets. Please contact the winery directly for the most up-to-date distribution information and to explore commercial opportunities.
Domestic:
- Alabama (Johnson Brothers - Alabama)
- Alaska (SWS - Alaska)
- Alaska (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Alaska)
- Arizona (Alliance)
- Arkansas (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Arkansas)
- California (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Northern CA)
- California (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Southern CA)
- Colorado (Breakthru Beverage - Colorado)
- Connecticut (Brescome Barton)
- Delaware (Breakthru Beverage - Delaware)
- Florida (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Florida)
- Georgia (NDC - Georgia)
- Georgia (Savannah)
- Hawaii (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Hawaii)
- Idaho (C Stein Inc)
- Idaho (Hayden Bevarage)
- Idaho (Odom Corp)
- Idaho (S & C Importers)
- Illinois (Breakthru Beverage - Illinois)
- Indiana (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Indiana)
- Iowa (Glazers - Iowa)
- Kansas (Standard)
- Kentucky (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Kentucky)
- Louisiana (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Louisiana)
- Maine (Central - Maine)
- Maine (Maine Distributors)
- Maine (Nappi)
- Maryland (Breakthru Beverage - Maryland)
- Maryland (Montgomery County Distributor)
- Massachusetts (United Liquors)
- Michigan (Fox)
- Michigan (J Lewis Cooper)
- Michigan (Marchetti)
- Minnesota (Johnson Brothers - Minnesota)
- Mississippi (Mississippi ABC)
- Missouri (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Missouri)
- Montana (Briggs Distributing)
- Montana (Cardinal Distributing)
- Montana (Fun Beverage)
- Montana (Mountain Country Distributing)
- Montana (Summit Beverage)
- Nebraska (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Nebraska)
- Nebraska (Sterling - Nebraska)
- Nevada (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Nevada)
- New Hampshire (New Hampshire Liquor Commision)
- New Jersey (Allied)
- New Jersey (American Bd)
- New Jersey (Fedway)
- New Mexico (NDC - New Mexico)
- New York (Empire Merchants (Metro NY))
- New York (Empire Merchants North)
- North Carolina (American Premium Beverage)
- North Carolina (Empire - North Carolina)
- North Carolina (Mutual)
- North Carolina (Skyland)
- North Dakota (Johnson Brothers - North Dakota)
- Ohio (Glazers - Ohio)
- Oklahoma (Jarobe)
- Oregon (SWS - Oregon)
- Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania LCB - Philadelphia)
- Pennsylvania (SWS - Pennsylvania)
- Rhode Island (Rhode Island Distributing)
- South Carolina (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - South Carolina)
- South Dakota (Johnson Brothers - South Dakota)
- Tennessee (Empire Distributors of TN - Nashville)
- Tennessee (Empire Distributors of TN - Chattanooga)
- Tennessee (Knoxville Beverage)
- Tennessee (West Tennessee Crown)
- Texas (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Texas)
- Utah (Utah ABC)
- Vermont (Baker)
- Virginia (Blue Ridge)
- Virginia (Lawrence)
- Virginia (NDC - Virginia)
- Washington (Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits - Washington)
- West Virginia (Can Am)
- West Virginia (Mountain State Beverage)
- Wisconsin (Badger)
- Wisconsin (Frank Liquor)
- Wyoming (Wyoming Liquor Commission)