When Achim von Arnim established Haute Cabrière in 1982, his goal was to produce South Africa’s finest Champagne-style sparkling wines. The sites and soils were ideal for the Champagne varietals of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
That dedication to the noble cultivars of Champagne reaches perfect expression in the most recent release of the Pierre Jourdan Blanc de Blancs. Achim handed responsibility for the cellar to his son Takuan last year; respect for tradition remains a guiding principle at Haute Cabrière. The founding philosophy of ‘Sun, Soil, Vine, Man’ continues to shine through in the Franschhoek estate’s flagship Méthode Cap Classique, with Takuan believing as fervently as his father that great wines are grown.
This 100 percent Chardonnay Cap Classique is grown, vinified and matured entirely on the farm, the Blanc de Blancs now takes its rightful place as the flagship bubbly from a cellar long famous for its Pierre Jourdan range.
40 percent of the base wine was matured in French oak for four months, before being blended back for secondary fermentation in the bottle. The wine enjoyed 78 months of lees contact in the cool Haute Cabrière maturation cellars, perfectly rounding off the lively natural acidity and contributing to both the elegant structure of the wine and its fine mousse. On the palate the lime and citrus character typical of Chardonnay, is balanced by a subtle creaminess imbued by the fine French Argonne oak.
“It’s a very sophisticated wine, and due to the 100 percent Chardonnay there’s a lovely freshness on the nose,” says Takuan. “However, due to 40 percent matured in French oak the wine also has a wonderful creaminess on the mid-palate that just cries out for oysters.”
The Blanc de Blancs is such a versatile wine, it is appreciated as an aperitif, an ideal partner to seafood, and pairs well with desserts where the creaminess on the palate mirrors the silkiness of a fine tiramisu or crème brûlée. The Pierre Jourdan Blanc de Blancs is certainly a wine for all occasions.
The wine is available from Haute Cabrière’s Tasting Room, the online shop www.cabriere.co.za and exclusively at Makro nationwide.
Haute Cabrière’s Tasting Room and Restaurant are both situated on Franschhoek Pass (Lambrechts Road), Franschhoek. Tasting Room hours are: Mon – Fri: 09h00 to 17h00 – Sat: 10h00 to 16h00 – Sunday: 11h00 to 16h00. Saturday morning cellar tours take place at 11h00. For reservations and enquiries: Email restaurant@Cabrière.co.za or call +27.218763688.
If, when dining at at The Haute Cabrière Restaurant, you have a treaty to ratify, or perhaps just as an accompaniment to one of Dennis’s magical desserts the Pierre Jourdan Ratafia is the wine for you.
A sweet fortified honeyed wine made entirely of the Estate’s Chardonnay grapes.
Buy Haute Cabrière & Pierre Jourdan wines online – CLICK HERE.
Information from Manley Communications.
Tags: Haute Cabrière Wines, Pierre Jourdan Wines, South African Cap Classique, South African Wines.