We did serious damage to our MCC collection these holidays. Having travelled all over France, I know that we have so many MCCs that easily surpass most of the Champagne we tasted.
The five I’ve listed below are my favourites, and will make perfectly compliment celebrations, soften commiserations and even inject joy into ‘bleh’ Wednesday afternoons. (Guess what’s in my fridge for later…)
I’ll start with the most local to me; Steenberg 1682 Pinot Noir MCC 2016 (R210) has delicate hints of berry hidden in the tart citrus notes. I’ve spent many a happy afternoon sipping this with my friend, Lauren from Dearheartbeauty.
Franschhoek is represented by the zesty Colmant Brut Chardonnay (R230). These bubbles deserve their waiting list (you have to be seriously fast to get your hands on it each year), as it has the most wonderful balance of fruit and minerality that will have you earning for sip after sip.
Another Franschhoek fave of mine, is the L’Ormarins Brut Classique NV (R120) is my ‘everyday MCC’* A traditional blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, these bubbles combine bitter stone fruit notes with the creaminess of ripe apples. A great intro for those of you new to MCC- a gateway MCC, if you will. Also the best value for money on the market.
* Extra, I know. But in a world of Donald Trumps and that Kardashian family, I think it’s important to have an everyday MCC.
As the name suggests, the Noble Hill Blanc de Blancs 2014 (R195) is made from 100% Chardonnay. I love it for it’s fresh, tropical fruit notes and it is undoubtedly best enjoyed in a coupe on the patio of the farm’s Cosecha restaurant.
I met John Loubser years ago at the launch of Bistro 1692 at Steenberg, where he introduced me to his (then) Steenberg Brut, and as a result, have been following his work ever since. He’s now left the farm to dedicate all his time to creating his Silverthorn collection. I love all of his MCCs (discover them here), but The Genie (R230) is by far my favourite. It’s a rose made from Shiraz, instead of traditional champagne varieties, and it delights the nose and taste buds with notes of the Middle East. Every time I open a bottle, I am reminded of travels to Turkey and Morocco thanks to hints of exotic spice and rose water. A special bottle of bubbles for all special occasions.
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