JC takes bubbly title ahead of MCC pioneer and specialist

JC Le Roux Scintilla 2003 is the
MCC Challenge winner for 2012
THE HOUSE OF KRONE was among the highlights of this year’s Méthode Cap Classique Challenge, sponsored by Amorim Cork and organised together with the Cap Classique Association which represents South Africa’s leading bubbly producers. The House of JC Le Roux won the competition with their 2003 Scintilla blend and scooped another category triumph with the 2008 JC Le Roux Pinot Noir Rosé. Cap Classique sparkling wine pioneer Simonsig Estate won the Blanc de Blancs division with their Cuvée Royale 2007, and the Krone family came top in the Museum class with the oldest vintage in the competition, the Krone Borealis Brut 2001.

The judges awarded 14 gold, 11 silver and 44 bronze medals in addition to the category titles and overall crown, and of the 74 entries only five wines were deemed unworthy of a medal. High-scoring runners-up included the multi award-winning Desiderius Pongrácz 2003 and Boschendal Grande Cuvée Brut 2007, with other Cap Classique stalwarts Graham Beck (Robertson) and Villiera (Stellenbosch) also putting in respectable performances in this shoot-out that focuses on sparkling wines produced according to the traditional method made famous in Champagne, France.

The Stellenbosch cellars of JC Le Roux (also home to Pongrácz) and Simonsig have won the MCC Challenge on more than a couple of occasions and have the wherewithal to compete with sparklers both young and matured, fresh and developed. Their oldest bubblies on the tasting bench this time round were 10-year-olds and, gauging from the post-judging comments of panel chairman and Cape Wine Master Allan Mullins, it was these and the 12-year-old Krone Borealis from Tulbagh that provided the most pleasurable moments for the jury.

Twelve years ago the Krone’s Twee Jonge Gezellen farm was also home to a range of non-sparkling wines, red and white, dry to sweet. TJ 39 and Schanderl, TJ Light and Night Nectar, Balm of the Night and Engeltjipipi – all now fading memories as the family has rationalised their range to the point where The House of Krone is one of the very few South African wineries focusing only on bubbly and the only commercial cellar in the Cape specialising exclusively in Cap Classique.

GOLD MEDALLISTS IN 2012 MCC CHALLENGE


Boschendal Le Grand Pavillon Brut Rosé NV
Darling Cellars Blanc de Blanc Brut 2009
De Grendel Méthode Cap Classique Brut 2010
De Wetshof Méthode Cap Classique Brut NV
Desiderius Pongrácz 2003
Graham Beck Brut Zero 2005
JC Le Roux Pinot Noir Rosé 2008 – Best Rosé
JC Le Roux Scintilla 2003 – Best Blend and Best Wine Overall
Krone Borealis Brut 2001 – Best Museum Class Entry
Môreson Solitaire Blanc de Blancs 2005
Saronsberg Brut 2009
Simonsig Cuvée Royale Blanc de Blancs 2007 – Best Blanc de Blancs
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 2003
Woolworths Méthode Cap Classique Reserve Brut 2007
SILVER MEDALLISTS IN 2012 MCC CHALLENGE
Boschendal Grande Cuvée Brut 2007
Boschendal Grande Cuvée Brut 2008
Christina van Loveren Méthode Cap Classique NV
Graham Beck Brut NV (magnum)
Graham Beck Cuvée Clive 2007
KWV Cathedral Cellar Méthode Cap Classique 2008
KWV Cathedral Cellar Méthode Cap Classique 2009
Nicolas Charles Krone Marque 1 NV
Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 2007
Villiera Monro Brut 2007
Waverley Hills Brut 2010
For the prices of these wines and other highly recommended bubblies, click here.

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