Pieter Ferreira, Blanc de Blancs 2020

Description

Pieter Ferreira, aka “Mr. Bubbles” alongside his wife Ann, established their independent label in 2012, building on decades of experience as the cellarmaster at Graham Beck, one of South Africa’s leading sparkling wine producers. The wines under his own label are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of MCC and showcasing the quality of South African sparkling wine on a global stage.

VINEYARDS & SOILS
30% Cape Agulhas, 30% Darling, 22% Robertson and 18% Napier.

The Chardonnay grapes for this Blanc de Blancs were selected from a diversity of terroirs to harness a multitude of flavour and structural profiles in the crafting of this Cap Classique wine.

The fruit from the cool climate regions of Cape Agulhas on the Cape South Coast and Darling on the West Coast is complemented by Chardonnay from the limestone-rich soils of Robertson, allowing for grapes from three distinct appellations to come together in creating a multi-layered wine of singular excellence.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY & WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS
Grapes are hand-picked in the coolness of early morning, whereafter each bunch undergoes a thorough selection process ensuring only the finest and healthiest fruit is approved to partake in the magical journey of Cap Classique crafting. Whole-bunch press separates the cuvée from the taille, with only the pure, unblemished cuvée portion used to further the process. After settling, most of the beautiful clear juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks, with a small portion set aside to undergo fermentation in traditional French oak barrels from Tonnellerie Artisanale de Champagne (Pièce Champenoise). This oaked component offers complexity and depth, as well as the focus point required to establish the wine’s exceptional status. The various individual wine parcels are then selected by means of a through tasting process to make individual sections for the Blanc de Blancs. After the initial fermentation, the wine is prepared for secondary fermentation in the bottle. Here the wine is allowed to live on the lees for six years, drawing structure, palate-weight and, of course, creating the millions of magical bubbles. The sediment is removed through the traditional process of remuage and dégorgement, after which the bottles are corked and laid down for six months cork maturation.

TASTING NOTES
On the eye it shows an enchanting luminous straw with lime green tinge colour. The bubbles are persistent and extremely fine in the glass. On the nose it delivers lime zest and orange blossom fruit aromas.

The generous palate is built on a chalky backbone, giving it charm and precision. The experience on the palate is a display of classic yeasty tones that have layers of flavours expressing lime pith, citrus peel and green almonds, the wine finishing on a comforting brioche note.

The experience is memorable, a Cap Classique focussed on precision with a firm, well integrated mousse and persistent bead and flavours – the universal lifeblood of a great bottle- fermented sparkling wine.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
100% Chardonnay
Alc: 11.72 %vol
TA: 8.2 g/l
PH: 3.13
RS: 3.7 g/l – Extra Brut
Total bottles produced: 2 826 bottles
Bottling Date: 17-06-2020
Date of Disgorging: 17-01-2025
55 Months on the lees

Additional information

Pairs deliciously with freshly shucked oysters and other seafood.