TAKEN BY SURPRISE! Just recently added to the Pongrácz range of Cap Classique bottle-fermented sparkling wines, the non-vintage Blanc de Blancs (white from white) version made entirely from Chardonnay – no Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier – has been quick to find favour among bubbly connoisseurs. The Vertex trophy winner as top-scoring wine overall and the only Chardonnay to win a double gold medal at the 2018 Veritas Awards, it joins a collection that includes the flagship Desiderius (R395pb), the ‘standard’ Brut NV (R145), a Rosé NV (R145) and, also new to the stable, Pongrácz Noble Nectar NV (R149), a sweet Cap Classique at 40g/l residual sugar. More about the brand here.

PONGRÁCZ BLANC DE BLANCS NV
WO Western Cape – the grapes are picked from two vineyards in Robertson and Elgin. 100% Chardonnay. After initial cold fermentation, the base wine undergoes malolactic fermention and is then matured on the fine lees for four months – a small portion is barrel-fermented. After fermentation in bottle, the wine spends at least 36 months on the lees before remuage/riddling and degorgement to remove the spent yeast cells before sealing with a cork.
Alc 12.6 | RS 5.4 | TA 6.1 | pH 3.2
From Winemaker Elunda Basson’s Tasting Notes: Citrus aromas, intensely fruity. Creamy richness. Fresh lemon zest and toasty yeast, ending with a vibrant mineral-driven finish.
Basson’s Pairing Suggestions: double-baked goats cheese soufflés; Cap Classique-poached oysters; white fish in a beurre blanc sauce.
R180 pb at Distell’s House of JC Le Roux in Devon Valley, Stellenbosch.