Celebrate Champagne Day with these MCCs. Image: Graham Beck
There is always reason for celebration, especially if there is a day like Champagne Day coming up this Friday on 22 October 2021.
Here are our five favourite Methodé Cap Classiques (MCCs) when it comes to South African bubbly to celebrate Champagne Day on 22 October with.
Avondale’s Armilla Blanc de Blanc 2014 has an exceptional character and outstanding elegance and has been handcrafted using 100% organically grown Chardonnay grapes.
Apart from its beautiful bottle, this bubbly is also beautiful on the palate. It comes with a balance of toasty, warm hazelnut bread, fresh quince and green apple. The fresh effervescent acidity is crisp and lively, yet seamlessly integrated on the palate.
Armilla’s rich and round character, its full velvety mouthfeel with a hint of citrus will have you want to raise your glass and celebrate Champagne Day every day.
Buy it for R309 at Norman Goodfellows or R310 on Avondale’s website.
Deetlefs Estate’s MCC is the only white MCC from Pinotage in the world and was given 90+ points at the Gilbert and Gaillard International Wine Awards 2021.
The Brut boasts aromas of baked apples, fresh lime, cherries and raspberries on the nose, ensuring good complexity. On the palate it shows delicate but lively mousse on entry, with subtle yeasty complexity adding to a very long, clean fruity finish.
Deetlefs Estate is one of the very few estates with three shades of Pinotage – an Estate Pinotage, a Pinotage Rosé and its award-winning Pinotage MCC.
Buy it online for R275 at www.deetlefs.com.
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Recognised as one of the best Cap Classique producers, it’s only natural that Graham Beck’s flagship bubbly, the Cuvée Clive would be included.
This MCC exudes polished poise, prestige and complexity with all the finesse necessary to make it the perfect celebratory drink.
Made from 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, the Chardonnay portions combine seamlessly to create a bouquet of rich peach, apricot, apple and citrus aromas with alluring hints of spice and toasted almonds from the barrels.
The Pinot Noir dances through these aromas, adding layers of complexity on the palate with fresh cranberry, pomegranate and spicy undertones.
The bubbly brings with it an elegant, fresh palate and its lengthy time on the lees creates a succulent texture that lingers long after the last sip.
Buy it online at www.shop.grahambeck.com for R780 or find it at Makro for R799. You will also be able to find it at Norman Goodfellows.
Widely recognised as one of South Africa’s best Rosé bubblies, Steenberg 1682 Pinot Noir Cap Classique boasts a blushing hue and beguiling scents of raspberry jelly, wild strawberry sorbet, red apple skin and toasted brioche.
But, that’s not all. Steenberg has another MCC to add to your list and that is the Steenberg 1682 Chardonnay Cap Classique, which is a richly layered Blanc de Blancs that matures for up to 18 months on the lees to reach is full potential.
This MCC is characterised by Granny Smith apple, candied lemon rind and white peach wafting from your flute. On the palate it is a lively bubbly with zesty acidity layered with lemon cordial, honeyed nectarines, toasted croissant and pistachio.
Both these bubblies are available at a cellar door price of R190. You can also buy it online at www.steenbergfarm.com.
For winemaker, Helgard van Schalkwyk every day is a celebration – even more so with a glass of Altydgedact’s Blanc de Blancs 2019 in hand. This bottle fermented MCC was kept on the lees for fourteen months and was given 93 points by winemag.co.za.
According to van Schalkwyk, it is richer on the palate than the 2020 vintage, due to be launched early in November.
The Altydgedacht Blanc de Blancs 2020 was bottle fermented for nine months and has been described as elegant and refreshing. It comes with pear and citrus on the palate, ending off with hint of biscuit.
Buy it online for R220 at www.altydgedacht.co.za/shop/
If not for Champagne Day, at least you know what to add to your list for the festive season’s celebrations.
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