Sandtonites love their bubbles, be it a sparkling breakfast, boozy brunch, luxurious luncheon, or celebratory dinner. Every September 1, Methode Cap Classique (MCC) celebrates its special day – Cap Classique Day.
- In the latest James Bond novel ‘Carte Blanche’, written by Jeffery Deaver, 007 opts for a 2003 Graham Beck Cuvée Clive instead of his usual martini.
- The best serving temperature for MCC is between 6°C and 10°C.
- According to De Grendel, the pressure in a Cap Classique bottle is approximately 3 times that of an ordinary car tyre’s pressure.
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2021 is an extra special year for Methode Cap Classique (MCC) as South Africa’s bubbles celebrate 50 years of production. South Africa’s winemakers have been producing MCC’s which stand toe-to-toe with some of the best bubbly in the world, if not better in some instances. Not to be confused with Sparkling Wine, which is wine filled with CO2 bubbles, MCC follows a longer, classic process of fermentation in the bottle, like the method used in the Champagne region in France.
The Sandton Times set some time aside to sample a few glasses and narrowed down the list to these delectable bubbles:
GRAHAM BECK BRUT NV
One of South Africa’s great Cap Classique brands, Graham Beck is a personal favourite when it’s time to pop a bottle, and we would be in good company, as it was served at both Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela’s inauguration parties.
And to mark Cap Classique Day they have an amazing giveaway! Purchase a minimum of 2 cases (12 x 750ml) of Graham Beck Cap Classique via their online store during September and automatically receive an entry into a spectacular GRAND PRIZE draw valued at R35 000, which includes:
- A 2-night stay at Tintswalo Atlantic Cape Town including dinner at Chefs Warehouse Atlantic and Graham Beck Bubbly for a year (12 cases)!
With a great range of bubbles for all types of palates, best to get that saber and ice bucket ready!
KRONE CAP CLASSIQUE BOREALIS CUVÉE BRUT
From the Twee Jonge Gezellen Estate, this is another all-time South African great! Krone gathers its grapes during a Night Harvest, a tradition going back to the early 1980’s. Here, the grape quality and the delicate aromas and flavours are preserved or as they call it: ‘We catch the stars’.
The tasting notes speak of ‘memories of the sea washing up with oyster shell aromatics, a salt-toned oceanic breeze. Bright green orchard apples, white blossoms, tumble with lemony freshness alongside a treacle hit of salted caramel. Deft and athletic on the palate, contained energy. There’s a transparent luminosity to the mousse, receding creamily.’ What more could you ask for?
BOSCHENDAL JEAN LE LONG PRESTIGE CUVÉE
Another great burst of sparkles from one of South Africa’s best-known wine estates, this bottle of Boschendal gold needs to be part of your next Spring brunch.
If you were not sure what was going on in every sip, the tasting notes reveal ‘enticing lemon cream, beeswax, pink grapefruit, and toasty brioche aromas that persist onto an intricate palate. Here the beautiful citrus core of lemon and orange zest opens up, along with rich roast nuts and flattering minerality finishing with extraordinary length and freshness.’ We’ll have some of that!
L’ORMARINS BLANC DE BLANCS
Some of the most delicious bubbles seem to come from the Franschhoek area, and this one from the Anthonij Rupert Wyne portfolio is no different. Try topping some Lemon Sorbet with this bubbly in a champagne flute for the ultimate Cap Classique Day dessert to be enjoyed with a long spoon.
‘The palate is lip-smackingly taut, zesty, and crisp on entry. Bright and fresh with tangy lemon- and grapefruit vivacity – that then makes way for riper, fleshier fruit – generous orange, apple- and stone fruit flavour. The wine then broadens out on the mid-palate with a creamier, fuller-bodied richness taking over before it tightens once more with a defined, dry and crisp tail.’ Well, that’s what the tasting notes tell us!
BABYLONSTOREN SPRANKEL
How could you not love this bottle? But what else would you expect from one of South Africa’s most beautiful wine farms and the Peet Pienaar butterfly-inspired label has us dreaming of walking around Babylonstoren’s beautiful gardens.
This fresh bottle of bubbles combines well with cheese, fruit, salmon, shellfish, and caviar. Its smooth character goes well with poultry and seafood dishes too. Lucky we happen to have those ready for our Cap Classique Day lunch!
HAUTE CABRIÈRE PIERRE JOURDAN BRUT
What many might appreciate about sipping away at their favourite bubbles, is knowing, that they are appreciating a slice of history, like the story of a French Huguenot named Pierre Jourdan who more than 300 years ago, owned the land where Haute Cabrière is now, and in true French tradition, the Haute Cabrière Cap Classique is today named after the original landowner. Better still, in 1986, the first wine to leave the Haute Cabrière cellar was a Cap Classique, or so the story goes.
With so much rich history in these delicate strings of tiny bubbles, how could we not include this MCC on Cap Classique Day?
With some attractive pricing for these world-class releases, pick up your favourite bottle at your local store, to enjoy at home with friends and family this Cap Classique Day.
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