Quick 6 for #CapClassiqueDay

A quick pick of 6 Cap Classique's that are up for drinking this #CapClassiqueDay - 1 September 2021!

This year, we are celebrating 50 years of Cap Classique! From modest beginnings to becoming one of SA's leading wine sectors.

It was only in 1971 when Frans Malan, owner of Simonsig Estate in Stellenbosch, from that harvest made the 1st natural bottle fermented sparkling wine in SA using Chenin Blanc. It was in 1973 that the first Cap Classique was released "Kaapse Vonkel" by Simonsig. Today there are over 250 SA producers in the Cape winelands that have a Cap Classique under their label. 

Moving from Chenin Blanc, nowadays - majority of Cap Classiques are made using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier, and range from 12 to 60 or more months lees contact.

My quick pick - (In no specific order.)

1. JC Le Roux Brut
Not something that you would easily find, JC Le Roux now only produce the Scintilla Cap Classique, which is just an interesting bottle from this producer that is more well known for producing Sparkling Wines. 

2. Steenberg 1682 Pinot Noir Brut

A firm favourite that never disappoints - there is always a bottle or 3 in my house; you know - just in case you get that urge for a glass on a Wednesday eve. Fresh, crisp & full of flavour with a beautiful lingering aftertaste. 

3. Krone 2016 Kaaimansgat Blanc De Blancs

Something I recently tried - I must say, the Chardonnay grown in Kaaimansgat proves that the terroir plays a big role in the development of the unique characteristics of the varietal. A big yes for this one from me. 

4. L'Ormanrins 2013 Blanc De Blancs

Perfectly paired with fresh Luderitz oysters on a hot summer day! Always on point and refreshing. 

5. La Motte 2013 Vintage

This baby holds a special place in my heart & it's really where my love for bubbly developed. Unique flavours & aroma's alongside a texture like no other. 

6. Wildekrans 2016 Brut Rosé

The wild card in the pack. Rose petals & strawberries, with a creamy finish & fine mousse. A delightful candy floss finish. 

There are so many more options to choose from, so best you make a move & pop a bottle of bubbly in celebration of 50 years. Share your #CapClassiqueDay moment with us on social media. 

Krone 2016 Kaaimansgat Blanc De Blancs

It's #CapClassiqueDay & I'm celebrating with something rather special - the new Krone 2016 Kaaimansgat Blanc De Blancs. A single-vineyard terroir-specific vintage cuvée, has been awarded double gold with a score of 93 at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge 2021 and was inspired by the #Champagne movement & is a terroir-driven #BlancDeBlancs, made in a natural style in small batches.

Sculpted by the vintage, it expresses the distinctive character of the iconic 33-year-old high-altitude Kaaimansgat (Crocodile’s Lair) #Chardonnay vineyard near #Villiersdorp. A site of extremes; the old vines, unirrigated, are located 700m above sea level on the steep foothills of the mountain, deep inside a blind valley in the cool-climate Elandskloof ward in the Overberg.

On the nose; sour dough, biscotti & a hint of smoky toast. The palate is fresh, lively with a fresh apple & white pear notes. Lively & youthful with a slight nutty note on the finish. Complex & rich with a lingering acidity on the aftertaste. With some food; the nature of these bubbles calls for authentic food of the highest simplicity.

Shellfish, baked oysters, whole trout grilled on a cedar-plank, pork cheeks with caramelised apples; T-bone accompanied by foraged mushrooms; Dalewood Huguenot soufflé; whole cauliflower roasted in terracotta; #CapClassique poached pears with clotted cream. (The list is endless!)

Distinctively packaged in a jet-black bottle with matching gift box, it is available for purchase at the estate or online.

#WineRoutingWithLloyd - Krone

If you know me, you know that I am a firm believer in enjoying a good glass or 3 of MCC. And so, when I was planning my #WineRoutingWithLloyd trip, I could not pass up the opportunity to visit one of my all time favourite bubbly producers.

Situated out on the Twee Jonge Gezellen farm just outside of Tulbagh lies the home of Krone. A collection of notable, vintage-only South African Méthode Cap Classiques. The farm, being among one of the oldest farms in the Western Cape, was 1 of 14 farms granted to colonists by the then governor of the Cape - Willem van der Stel, as he wanted to see development beyond Cape Town, specifically in the Winterberg & Witzenberg areas, which is now know as Tulbagh, and so the town was established in 1743.

Fast forward to 1969, a rather devastating earthquake rocked the entire region & effectively delayed the introduction of Krone MCC by a whole 20 years. The very 1st Krone Borealis vintage, being 1987, was released in 1991 & so a new generation of MCC's was born.

Something that I quite like about Twee Jonge Gezellen, is that it was in the 1980's that 'night harvesting' was introduced. Specifically as a way to preserve the quality of the grape & the delicate aromas & flavours of all the freshly picked grapes. Still today, this is a tradition that carries on when all the staff get up in the dark of night to pick grapes before dawn & the heat of the day sets in. 

I even got to have a private tour around the farm & cellars by winemaker Stephan de Beer. 

Did you know that Twee Jonge Gezellen also boast with the very 1st underground cellar in Africa! It was so cool to be able to take a walk in the historic cellar & see MCC in the making, where bottles are stacked in old style pupitre's & are still turned by hand in the process of remuage.

Read more here about how Krone MCC is made. (For those of you who love a glass of bubble, then this is something for you.)

It's no lie that Krone has always been my go-to bubbly. It's always fresh & crisp. My palate prefers the Brut over the Demi Sec, but naturally only because I'm already sweet enough. Definitely an elegant gold colour, with aromas of lemon peel on the nose for me, with a touch of minerality & finished off with a slight biscuity characteristic. On the palate fresh yellow apples & a slight bit of a salted caramel. What I do love about Krone is the mousse. It is fine yet persistent & leaves a refreshing aftertaste. 

Definitely to be enjoyed whenever & wherever. For me, no occasion is needed, sometimes that occasion is simply having a bottle of Krone in the wine cooler!

Check out Krone & Twee Jonge Gezellen here.

#WineRoutingWithLloyd

12 Days of Christmas - Day 7

and on the 7th day of Christmas...
... on my Christmas Wishlist

Krone Borealis.

I am an avid lover of a good bottle of bubbly. The Krone Borealis is a MCC created using grape varieties of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay.

I love how the name came to being. As quoted on the Krone website: "Legend records that Bacchus, God of Wine in Greek Mythology, fell in love with Ariadne, daughter of the King of Crete. In order to uplift her spirits & to prove his love to her, he threw his golden crown, a circlet of gems, into the 'heavens' where it remained to shine forever as the dainty constellation of starts called CORONA BOREALIS.  Corona means Crown, as does Krone. Following the thought pattern yet? Hence the name Krone Borealis. Thus this MCC is often described as being full of stars and as the grapes are harvested at night under the starry night sky.

So you can be sure that I will be having a bottle or 2 over the next few days whilst relaxing on holiday.

Check out @KroneMCC on Twitter and give them a shoutout when you pop a bottle.