Who’s blushing now?! Stellenrust sparkler comes out on top against the odds

STELLENRUST Clement de Lure MCC Brut NV was recently chosen as the favourite sparkling wine in a line-up of 44 bubblies judged ‘blind’ (labels out of sight) by a group of knowledgeable wine folk who’d gathered at the upmarket Harrow restaurant at Little Bedwyn in Marlborough, Wiltshire UK. A “shock result” was how the organisers of the inaugural Little Bedwyn World Sparkling Wine Challenge tasting described the outcome. And indeed, Stellenrust’s triumph over some of the big names in Champagne – including Moët & Chandon’s Dom Pérignon and Louis Roederer’s Cristal – as well as leading producers of bottle-fermented sparklers elsewhere in France, in England, Wales, Australia and in South Africa was an amazing performance for a fizz that winemaker Tertius Boshoff and his team only made for the first time in 2010.

The packaging is fairly conservative in design. As per the label, this is Clement de Lure, translated as ‘subtle temptation’. So subtle that the bottle carries no mention of what grape varieties are used for this Stellenbosch Cap Classique – just that it’s made “without the traditional varieties”, which isn’t entirely true, given the Chardonnay component. And not a word about Rosé, De Noir or  Blush, even though the bubbly is decidedly pink in the glass – whereas many people unfamiliar with the wine might well expect, on looking at the dark green bottle, that the contents would be white or clear, perhaps yellow or golden in colour.

Primarily from Chenin Blanc, together with Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc – instead of the traditional Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – Stellenrust’s non-vintage Brut complies with the traditional Méthode Champenoise but is intended to be more in the style of sparkling wine associated with the Loire valley, France: Crémant de Loire. Dry Champagne character, vigorous bubble and attractively priced at R105 a bottle from the cellar.

The results of the inaugural Little Bedwyn World Sparkling Wine Challenge were given by the organisers Roger and Sue Jones as follows, with three wines tying for third place and five wines tying for sixth:

 

1. Stellenrust Clement de Lure, Brut NV, SA
2. Charles Heidsieck Rosé Reserve NV, Fr
3. Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires 1995, Fr
3. Hattingley Kings Cuvée 2011, UK
3. Nyetimber Classic Cuvée 2009, UK
6. Charles Heidsieck Rosé 2006, Fr
6. Dom Pérignon 2005, Fr
6. Silverthorn The Green Man Brut 2011, SA
6. Villiera Pinot Meunier Brut 2006, SA
6. Waterford Brut 2006, SA

 

The tasters included English winemakers Emma Rice (Hattingley), Cherrie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix (Nyetimber) with Julia Trustram Eve (The English Wine Producers), restaurateur Neleen Strauss (High Timber), Emma and Miguel Simington (Wine Australia, Ambriel), Steve and Viv McGraw (Riedel UK), Mark and Susie Lewis (The Caterer Magazine), plus…

Here is the full list of entries in the Challenge as supplied by the organisers:

FROM FRANCE: Ayala BDB 2007, Ayala Brut Majeur Brut NV, Ayala Rose Majeur Brut NV, Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires 1995, Charles Heidsieck Brut 2005, Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV, Charles Heidsieck Rose 2006, Charles Heidsieck Rose Reserve NV, Cristal 2006, Devaux Brut NV, Devaux Rose NV, David Leclapart BDB Brut NV, Dom Perignon 2005, Gosset Grande Reserve Brut NV, Langlois Cremant de Loire Brut NV, Marc Hebrart NV, Simonnet-Febvre P100 BDN Brut NV

FROM SOUTH AFRICA: Domaine Des Dieux Claudia Brut 2009, Graham Beck Brut Rose 2009 and 2010, Graham Beck Cuvee Clive 2009, Klein Constantia Brut 2011, L’Ormarins Brut Rose 2012, Silverthorn the Green Man Brut 2011, Stellenrust Clement de Lure Brut NV, Villiera Monro Brut 2009, Villiera Pinot Meunier 2010, Vondeling Rurale 2013, Waterford Brut 2006

FROM UNITED KINGDOM: Ambriel NV, Ancre Hill 2009, Gusborne BDB 2010, Hattingley BDB Brut 2010, Hattingley Kings Cuvee 2011, Nyetimber Classic Cuvee 2009, Pierre Sugrue 2011, Ridgeview BDB Brut 2011

FROM AUSTRALIA: Apogee Brut 2011, Brown Brothers Patricia 2008, Jansz Rose NV, Jansz 2009

FROM NEW ZEALAND: Akarua Brut NV, Akarua Brut Rose NV, Nautilus Brut NV

For more about the Little Bedwyn World Sparkling Wine Challenge, click here.

 

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