I remember as a kid having the fridge filled to the brim with Pierre Jourdan. It was my mother’s favourite and was such a staple part of our evening that my dad even had a pet name for it – “Perry Jordan.” During a recent stay at my official Cape town residence, the Mount Nelson, I noticed that the local method cap classique of choice on their menu, is Pierre Jourdan. The penny dropped and after some introductions and rapid mutual agreements, it is with great pleasure that I can now reveal that Pierre Jourdan Brut is the official exclusive 2oceansvibe cap classique. Methode Cap Classique denotes a South African sparkling wine made by the traditional Champagne method.
Situated on the slopes of the beautiful Franschhoek valley, Haute Cabrière was initially granted to a Huguenot settler named Pierre Jourdan in 1694, who then named the property after his hometown in France.
His pioneering spirit lives on in the eccentric artist and winegrower Achim von Arnim, who purchased the property in 1982, with the vision to establish Haute Cabrière the first Estate in South Africa specialising in producing wines in the style of the Champagne and Burgundy regions – using only the classic noble cultivars of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Today, Achim’s son Takuan, who studied wine growing in Germany, is following in his father’s footsteps as Cellarmaster, overseeing the careful production of the Haute Cabriere wines and Pierre Jourdan Cap Classiques.
The Pierre Jourdan range comprises the popular still Champagne, Tranquille, as well as the sparkling MCC’s – the Brut, the Cuvée Belle Rose, the Blanc de Blancs and the Brut Sauvage. Each one has enjoyed a minimum of eighteen months on the lees which contributes to the distinguished dry elegance of these MCC’s.
The Pierre Jourdan Brut is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. Crisp, complex and rewarding on the palate with citrus and lime flavours from the Chardonnay backed by the concentration and structure of the Pinot Noir. The Pierre Jourdan Belle Rose is a 100% Pinot Noir MCC. A luscious salmon-pink colour delights the eye and complements the flavours and aromas of ripe strawberries. A fine mousse accentutates the elegantly dry finish.
The Pierre Jourdan Blanc de Blancs evolves from a 100% Chardonnay base wine that has spent time in French oak. The fresh lime flavours of the cultivar are given concentration and creaminess by the flavours of the oak. A delicious aperitif or a perfect partner to desserts as a refreshing finale to a meal.
The Pierre Jourdan Brut Sauvage is ‘oyster dry’ i.e. it has no dosage added after the removal of the yeast from the bottle. Blended from 60% fruity Chardonnay with intensity and richness coming from the 40% Pinot Noir, this MCC surprises and delights with a prominently yeasty bouquet, accentuating the completely natural dryness, called ‘sauvage’ by the French.
In addition, the velvet-smooth potstill brandy Fine de Jourdan and the delicately-enticing fortified Chardonnay, the Ratafia, also come under the Jourdan label.
Ask for Pierre Jourdan by name, and realise why 2oceansvibe takes such pride in its association with premium brand.
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