South Africa’s Cap Classique is coming on in leaps and bounds. The two latest releases simply are further proof that South Africa is fizzing with intent.
Graham Beck is something of a stalwart of South African traditional method fizz. So much so that its head winemaker Pieter Ferreira goes under the name “Mr Bubbles”. While many know Graham Beck as a reliable source of affordable fizz, there is the so-called Artisan Collection. This top tier represents “an advanced tier and creative playground” with a focus on “artistic ingenuity and artisanal, terroir-driven winemaking,” the winemaker says. The aim is, quite simply, “to create something rare and memorable.”
In the case of this year’s release, a pair of vintage wines aptly named Yin & Yang, Ferreira absolutely delivered. Both wines are indeed memorable and most elegant.
The name was a natural result of the selection process when Ferreira and his fellow winemaker Pierre Klerk tasted the base wines of the 2016 vintage. Klerk first hit upon the Pinot Noir dominant Yin and both he and Ferreira were so “elated” that they wanted to create an equally striking counterpart, a wine with a dominance in Chardonnay. “The two ‘forces’ of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are opposing, yet completely complementary to one another in Cap Classique blending.”
“It’s all about accepting life’s contrasts and celebrating these differences,” says Klerk. “In these two Cap Classiques, the harmonious balance of Pinot Noir – Yin – and Chardonnay –Yang – is critical.” The edition is limited to just 2,000 lots of Yin & Yang that will only be sold as a pair. At a retail price of £80/US$106 the wines are a bargain and a delicious contrast.
