Description
Krone Borealis Cuvée Brut Cap Classique 2021 is a South African champagne-style sparkling wine produced from champagne grapes, Chardonnay (67%) and Pinot Noir (27%) with a dash of Pinot Bianco or Pinot Blanc (6%) for its spice and refreshing acidity. If you find the bready, brioche notes of some champagne-style wines a bit too much, this could be the bubbly for you as the fruit flavours and aromas dominate – on the nose, green apples, pears with a hint of toffee and a hint of sea breeze salinity. On the palate riper red apple flavours come forward and the green apple acidity remains in harmony with salted caramel notes that linger on the long, crisp finish. Night harvesting and cold fermentation help to preserve the fresh fruit flavours of the grapes. Ageing Krone Borealis the wine on its lees for at least 12 months in an underground cellar turning it by hand as is done in the champagne houses helps the wine develop a lovely creamy texture. This is a delicious bottle of bubbly!
Cap Classique is the term used in South Africa for its sparkling wines produced using the champagne or traditional method i.e. a second alcoholic fermentation is undertaken in the bottle (rather than in a tank) to create the bubbles. Krone Borealis Cuvée Brut Cap Classique 2021 is produced on a 300-year-old estate called Twee Jonge Gezellen in Tulbagh, in the Western Cape area of South Africa. Krone only make Cap Classique wines and, with celebrated South African oenologist Rudiger Gretschel (who is also cellar master at Reyneke) in charge of the winemaking, Krone has made a name for itself as South Africa’s best-known Cap Classique producer. Krone focus on terroir and vintage meaning that their wines are not made to a “recipe”, consistent year on year, but reflect the particular characteristics of the single vineyard from which the grapes are picked and the particular vintage.
2021 was a vintage characterised by snow and sun and a large diurnal temperature range ensured fruity, light, fresh wine; 18 months ageing on lees gives the wine body and texture with a hint of biscuit. You could also try Krone’s Rosé Cap Classique from the same vintage.