Ultimate Guide To Africa January 2015 | Page 30

Feature wine

A Memorable MCC
Text & Image © Uitkyk Wine Estate

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ituated on the southern slope of Simonsberg in the
Stellenbosch wine region, Uitkyk Wine Estate creates
a range of accomplished wines that reflect the allure
and magic of its rich history.
The elegant Glass Memoires Cap Classique is a
classic blend of 51% Chardonnay, which imparts body
and complexity, and 49% Pinot Noir, which brings a
minerality and flintiness to the blend. The Chardonnay
vineyard is 14 years old and planted 262 m above
sea level. The Pinot Noir vineyard is a 25-year-old
block planted on a slope 326 m above sea level. Both
vineyards are trellised on a low five-wire canopy and
receive supplementary drip irrigation.
The grapes were harvested by hand in January 2011.
Whole bunch pressing was done after cooling, and no
skin contact was allowed. After an overnight settling
period, clear juice was inoculated with pure Prisse de
Mousse yeast culture and fermentation was completed in
three weeks. Twelve percent of the wine was fermented
in older 300 litre French barrels, and 65% of it went
through malolactic fermentation to bring more balance
and complexity to the final product. In August 2011
the base wine was bottled with added yeast and sugar
for the secondary fermentation in the bottle to create
the beautiful fine bubbles. Thereafter the wine was left
on the lees in the bottle for 25 months before the lees
was removed in the traditional method of remuage and
degorgement in September 2013. No sugar was added to
the dosage, thus creating an extra Brut MCC.
For more information visit www.uitkyk.co.za.

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