It’s about time I wrote about something fizzy so this week it all about one of our absolute favourites and a real hidden gem. Chamonix Cap Classique Brut Blanc de Blancs 2007 (£19). Chamonix is a fairly substantial piece of estate in the Franschhoek Valley, very close to Stellenbosch and they’ve always had a reputation for producing top quality Chardonnay because of its high northerly limestone soils. This Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) is made in very small quantities, solely from their own grapes, and the estate is gradually moving over to organic viticulture. The first fermentation took place in a large, 2500 litre oak barrel, followed by a second fermentation in bottle. After 7 days on fine lees, and 11 months in oak for the base wines, it spent another 3 to 5 years on fine lees before hand disgorgement. The resultant wine is richer in style for the oak fermentation and maturation, bringing out that round side of the Chardonnay grape. It is fairly obvious on the nose that it has seen oak treatment, as it has a healthy savoury smoky element in amongst the baked citrus fruit aromas. One might be forgiven for confusing it with a Blanc de Noirs as a result, and it makes for a very interesting sparkling wine. Great body and a slightly bitter, pleasant aftertaste lead to a very long finish. “Less buttery, more savoury” would be a good way to describe this wine in a nutshell, and food matches should be made accordingly.
http://oldlockett.making.me.uk/shop/chamonix-cap-classique-blanc-de-blancs-2007/
