Still celebrating the holidays? Tasting and enjoying the Domaine Carneros “Le Reve” was how we wrapped 2025. This sparkling chardonnay performs at a very high level and on all cylinders. It shows straw pale in the glass, with aromas and flavors of lemon mousse, brioche, yeast, and fresh pear. It’s classic traditional method bubbles, and a great way to celebrate on New Year’s Eve. But don’t let that stop you; enjoying sparkling wines should be a year-round part of your wine rotation, and this exceptional wine is top of my list.
Le Reve translates to “The Dream” in French, and represents Founder Claude Taittinger’s dream for this wine: to be one of the most exceptional sparkling wines produced in the United States. It’s certainly in the running for that accolade in my opinion.
The fruit is 100 percent estate and aged for over six years en tirage. The resultant wine is very aromatic, beautifully structured, with bright acidity and a creamy mouthfeel.
We took winemaker Zak Miller’s pairing suggestion and enjoyed Le Reve with goat cheese. Add some hazelnuts and potato chips and celebrate this classique.
Read winemaker Zak Miller’s Wine Characters interview, and learn why he selected Le Reve as most emblematic of this Taittinger brand.