Discover our ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc

Discover Passel Estate’s ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc. A refined sparkling Chenin Blanc from Margaret River with citrus, brioche and fine persistent mousse.

Current Release: 2023 Passel Estate ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc

Shop our 2023 ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc
Price: $45 per bottle (750ml)

Vintage notes

A cold winter allowed our vines to enjoy full dormancy, then a wet spring nourished the soil water reserves for the growing season. Sustained warm conditions moderated with night-time cooling from the ocean breezes, from ripening through to harvest, enabled the generous aromas and outstanding flavour development which define Margaret River. The lack of summer rains yielded beautifully balanced vines, with clean, healthy fruit. It also impacted the summer forage, meaning we had to net the vines despite low bird pressure to keep the hungry kangaroos away. The resulting wines show the vitality and energy of this amazing growing season.

Winemaking notes

The pristine Chenin Blanc fruit was picked in the cool of the morning and cold pressed to retain freshness and finer texture and structure. The juice was lightly settled for just 24 hours, then racked to ferment while harvesting only the lightest and most delicate grape solids to further aid in textural and aromatic development. The ferment was cold and long, undergoing regular bâtonnage both during and after fermentation in order to further develop the textural nuances and add complexity. After 4 months of regular bâtonnage the wine was clarified and bottled, to undergo secondary fermentation in the bottle as is the traditional French method. The sparkling wine spent a further 12 months on lees in bottle before disgorgement and dosage.

Tasting notes

Colour: Light green in colour with mother of pearl flecks.
Bouquet: Freshly cut white pear, subtle brioche, shaved almonds and sea-spray.
Palate: A fine and focused entry on the palate of natural acidity with flavours of grapefruit and white nectarine leads to a feather-light finish of crushed granite and freshly whipped cream, carried forth by an ultra-fine mousse.

Food Pairing Suggestions

– Lightly salted popcorn
– Oysters, tempura prawns or lobster rolls.
– Charcuterie and freshly baked sourdough.
– Savoury cheese gougères

Cellaring & Serving Suggestions

The 2023 Passel Estate ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc is drinking beautifully now for its freshness and vitality, while careful cellaring will allow additional brioche and toasted complexity to emerge over time.

Serving temperature: Best served chilled at 6–8°C to highlight freshness, mousse, and aromatics.
Cellaring potential: Enjoy now or cellar for 3–6 years for added texture and complexity.

Awards & Reviews

The 2023 Passel Estate ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc is our first sparkling wine. To our absolute honour, it has already received not only gold medals, but even a Best Sparkling trophy.

Here are a selection of awards and praised garnered for the ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc:

Trophy: Best Sparkling Wine, Australian Chenin Blanc Challenge 2025

Gold Medal, Australia & New Zealand Boutique Wine Awards 2025

Silver Medal, Decanter World Wine Awards 2025

93 Points: Ray Jordan, West Australian Wine Review 2026: “There are plenty of chenin blancs being turned into sparkling wines these days, and this is certainly one of the best. I particularly like the expression of the fruit, which has a purity and pristine qualities that highlight the traditional and typical melon-like tropical fruits and crisp acidity that are part of the variety. It also has texture and flavour through the palate, adding another dimension and making it such an appealing wine for current drinking. It would be hard to put down on a summer’s afternoon around the pool”

Why Choose Passel Estate’s 2023 Passel Estate ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc?

This delightful wine showcases the versatility and elegance of Chenin Blanc in sparkling form.  It balances vibrant fruit with the complexity developed through traditional bottle fermentation and lees aging. The result is a sparkling wine that feels both luxurious and restrained, offering purity, texture, and exceptional drinkability.

Elegant, vibrant, and intricately layered, the 2023 Passel Estate ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc captures the finesse and energy of premium sparkling wine from Margaret River. Crafted in the traditional method by fermenting in the bottle, La Joie is an elegant sparkling wine with an ultra-fine mousse.

Conceived by owners Wendy and Barry as an expression of life’s joyful moments, this sparkling Chenin Blanc balances bright citrus purity with delicate brioche complexity, delivering a wine that feels equally suited to celebration or quiet refinement.

Built around precision winemaking with the wine spending significant time aging on yeast sediment to build complexity, texture and finesse through a process known as ‘extended lees maturation’, La Joie expresses both freshness and sophistication.

Fine bubbles, mineral tension, and subtle texture create a sparkling wine that is distinctly Margaret River while honouring the elegance of classic méthode traditionnelle styles.

The Role of Chenin Blanc in Sparkling Winemaking and Margaret River

Chenin Blanc has long been prized for sparkling wine production thanks to its naturally bright acidity, structural tension, and ability to develop complexity over time.

In Margaret River’s maritime climate, Chenin Blanc retains freshness while developing expressive citrus and orchard fruit characters, creating wines with both energy and refinement.

For méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines, these qualities are especially important. The grape’s acidity provides lift and longevity, while lees aging introduces texture, brioche notes, and depth without overwhelming the wine’s freshness. The result is a sparkling style that feels vibrant, precise, and elegant.

Order Passel Estate’s ‘La Joie’ Méthode Traditionnelle Chenin Blanc today.