Nothing says romance like a cold glass of bubbly. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I have rounded up some of the best (and my favourite) South African Cap Classique’s. I am no expert on Cap Classique, but I know when I love something, and I love all these MCC’s. Whether you prefer a sweet nectar or a luxurious brut, I have got you sorted.
Anna Christina
The 2020 Anna Christina Méthode Cap Classique – of which only 3000 bottles were made – is made entirely from Chardonnay. It is part of Stellenbosch Hills’s flagship Sense of Place range, a portfolio dedicated to the best the winery can produce. The Anna Christina was named after the eldest daughter of well-known Stellenbosch wine pioneer, Antonie Vlotman. Antonie was the first wine farmer in the Vlottenburg area. The Vlottenburg Cellar was established in 1945 and was renamed Stellenbosch Hills in 2003. This elegant straw-coloured Cap Classique spoils the senses with aromas of citrus blossoms and fresh Granny Smith apples with a nutty yeastiness to the nose.
Pair with: This MCC pairs beautifully with fresh oysters or paté. And due to its richness and complexity should be able to be kept for 4 to 6 years.
Price range: Coming soon (the 2018 Anna Christina is available from the cellar at R223)
Mrs Celine
Nuy’s Cellar Masters are well travelled – gathering experience from wine regions in France, Germany, Australia, and America. And their years of winemaking experience and commitment shows in every bottle of Nuy wine. NUY’s Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut MCC is really something special. The Celine is made in the traditional method where secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle. The wine spends 54 months on the lees before disgorgement. It is named after Elsaline (Celine) Cloete who actively farmed in the farming community Nuy calls home.
Pair with: Enjoy as an aperitif, with smoked venison carpaccio, creamy chicken or creamy pasta, or grilled salmon. According to the winemaker the wine has an ageing potential of 5 to 6 years.
Price range: R235 (available online)
Kaapse Vonkel Satin Nectar Rosé
Simonsig won Best Rosé for their Kaapse Vonkel Satin Nectar Rosé 2020 at last year’s Amorim Cap Classique Challenge Awards.
The iconic Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel – South Africa’s first Cap Classique ever made – was conceived at Simonsig all the way back in 1971 by Frans Malan. Since then, Simonsig and the Malans have proudly continued the tradition and have developed Kaapse Vonkel to an international standard bearer for South-African made, bottle-fermented sparkling wine, better know as Cap Classique.
Their Kaapse Vonkel Satin Nectar is a delightful salmon colour. On the nose you will pick up on aromas of wild strawberries and candied raspberries which are followed by the faint aromas of ripe peaches and melon. The bottle’s design is also delightfully quirky.
Pair with: This sweeter Cap Classique pairs well with Chinese and Thai dishes, lightly dressed seafood salads, Japanese sushi, and any decadent dessert.
Price range: R190 (available online and at most leading retailers)
The Belle Rose – Romantic, vibrant, strawberry
The Pierre Jourdan range is named after the French Huguenot to whom the Franschhoek property was granted in 1694 and is a true celebration of Franschhoek’s famous Cap Classique’s and history. The whole range is crafted to be fresh and easy drinking, making it the perfect choice for any celebration.
Their Belle Rose Cap Classique is the sweetheart of the range. The light rose hue gives it a very romantic feel. I love the nose of the Bell Rose with its amazing mix of berries followed by a rich palate that lingers.
Pair with: Salmon and trout dishes.
Price range: R135 – R170 (available online and at most leading retailers)
For the love of Pinot Noir
If, like me, you love Pinot Noir and bubbles you are going to love this Cap Classique. Recognised as one of South Africa’s finest Rosé bubblies, Steenberg 1682 Pinot Noir Cap Classique strikes a sophisticated pose with its blushing hue and captivating scents of raspberry jelly, wild strawberry sorbet, red apple skin, and toasted brioche. Its very fine mousse lifts the raspberry-like aromas and lingers long after the last sip.
Pair with: This pale pink Pinot Noir is perfect for a long, lazy alfresco lunch of salmon ceviche, melon and prosciutto salad, and strawberry parfait. The 1682 Pinot Noir Cap Classique can be enjoyed in its youth or cellared for 3 to 5 years for a more savoury flavour.
Price range: R219 (available online and at most leading retailers)
Colmant – It is all about the bubbles
In 2002 Jean-Philippe Colmant followed his heart and made the ‘big move’ with his family from French speaking Belgium to the beautiful Franschhoek Valley. On 5ha smallholding, he purchased from La Motte farm, he took a leap of faith and decided to start producing his own Cap Classique wines, something he knew nothing about. As soon as the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards were planted he began with the construction of South Africa’s first cellar to be solely dedicated to Cap Classique. The cellar building was completed in 2005 just in time for the farm’s first harvest in 2006. And so, Jean-Philippe began producing the finest boutique Cap Classique’s in the country. And one might be tempted to say the rest is history. But that would not be the full story. In 2019 Paul Gerber, one of South Africa’s leading Cap Classique makers, joined the Colmant team as winemaker.
I absolutely love their Brut Reserve NV with its subtle golden glow and stream of fine bubbles. It tantalizes your senses with its beautiful marriage between citrus and freshly baked bread flavours. I also really enjoy its lovely smooth and rounded mouthfeel. The Brut Reserve NV has consistently achieved a rating of minimum 4 ½ stars in the Platter guide for the past 13 consecutive years.
Pair with: Pairs fantastically with delicate seafood, oysters, and sushi. But I love serving it as an aperitif.
Price range: R265 (available online and limited stockists)
Classy Laborie
Tucked beneath the Paarl Mountain lies a very special wine Estate. Laborie winery was founded by Jean Taillefert. In 1691, the French Huguenot arrived in Paarl with his parents and immediately began to clear the vineyard. After the Taillefert family produced its first wines, the question of a name for the small winery arose. Originally, the family named the estate La Brie – after the district in the French Potou- Charents from which the family originated. However, after a while the words merged, and La Brie evolved into Laborie. Laborie has always been known for its great quality wine, but in 1972 KWV bought Laborie which meant a further increase in the quality of Laborie’s wines.
Laborie has four beautiful Cap Classique’s in their range, of which their Blanc de Blancs 2016 currently is my favourite. This MCC matures for approximately 60 months in the bottle giving it a fine, elegant mousse and a rich, creamy palate with an explosive acidity. It surprises with aromas of pineapple and orange marmalade on the nose. On the palate there are hints of lime and toasted bread.
Pair with: Enjoy with oysters, sushi and other delicate seafood dishes.
Price range: R169 (available online or from most leading retailers)
Effervescent elegance in a glass from De Grendel
De Grendel has two exceptional Cap Classique’s. Their stunning Brut 2019 Cap Classique is a blend of Chardonnay (81%) and Pinot Noir (19%) and has a wonderfully sweet tropical fruit aroma. This bright straw coloured Cap Classique, with its extremely fine streams of bubbles, has been the winner of multiple trophies and awards through the years. Fresh lemon and lime flavours balanced with a lemon-cream richness makes this Cap Classique a delight to drink.
But it is their Proposal Hill Pinot Noir Brut Rosé that has captured my heart. The Proposal Hill Cap Classique is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes and has all the hallmarks of a traditional Cap Classique with a touch of playfulness. Cellar master Charles Hopkins describes the Proposal Hill Pinot Noir Brut Rosé as complex and with a weightier palate than the average sparkling wine. This bone-dry rosé has a fine and persistent mousse introducing hints of oyster shell and fresh lavender on the nose. I just love the intense strawberry coulis and black cherry flavours.
Pair with: Proposal Hill Brut Rosé is the ideal sundowner drink. It also makes for a perfect welcoming drink for any special celebration. Serve with canapés or add a little pizazz to an al fresco meal, picnic, or garden party.
Price range: R280 -R300 (Available online and retailers)
Kloovenburg – Laughter in a bottle
Kloovenburg Wine and Olive Estate is a family business built on the philosophy of: start small, work hard, and success will follow. This seems to be a great philosophy judging by the delicious wine and olives they are producing.
Winemaker, Duncan Stuart, describes Kloovenburg’s Grenache Brut as his boys’ carefree and spontaneous laughter bottled into a refreshing sparkling wine. This festive Sparkling wine with its rose-tinted hue treats the senses to aromas of strawberry, cherry, cranberry, and candyfloss.
Pair with: The perfect drink with brunch staples like pancake and frittatas. Also pairs well with duck, Thai food, and cheese platters.
Price range: R120 (available online)
Something a little sweeter from Krone
If you prefer something a little sweeter then you are going to love Krone‘s Night Nectar Cap Classique. Night Nectar is a vintage-only Cap Classique using traditional grape varieties Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The wine is handcrafted on Twee Jonge Gezellen in the beautiful Tulbach. A light and bright aroma of honeysuckle, apple blossom and jasmine blend with the scent of baking golden apples in this pale lemon-yellow wine.
Pair with: Lovely with or after dessert. I also like pairing it with cheese and biscuits.
Price range: R180 (available online or at most retailers)
Happy sipping!
xxx
Images: Madison West Lifestyle, Peet van Eeden, Fay van Eeden, Provided.
