Jacques Bruere Vintage Cap Classique Brut Reserve

Neatly tucked between the life-sustaining waters of the Breede River and the impressive Langeberg mountain range lies Bon Courage Wine Estate. This prestigious award-winning family-run estate has been the recipient of many awards and received wide acclaim both locally and internationally for its wines and is truly a versatile estate. The history of the estate goes back to 1927 when the Bruwers bought the farm. It was in October 1983 that owner, Andre Bruwer changed the farm's name from Goedemoed to the French translation, Bon Courage, in honour of their French ancestors, and registed Bon Courage as an Estate. Due to the estate's diversity of soils, a wide range of grape varietals can thrive on the farm and they have therefore put much effort into matching the correct cultivar to the ideal soil type. Bon Courage is highly respected for its ability to produce a diverse collection of award-winning wines across the board, in terms of cultivars, styles and price-points, all offering consistency in quality. Three generations of the Bruwer family have dedicated their lives to the production of premium wines and today they combine their experience, personal attention and love for wine to produce some of the country´s finest wines.

Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

The base wine was kept on the lees for 8 months initially during the first fermentation. 10% of the Chardonnay was barrel fermented. The magic of the bubbles begins during the second fermentation that occurs in the bottle thereby extending maturation on the lees for a minimum of 95 months (that is Prestige Cuvee level bottle aging right there!). After "disgorgement" (removal of the yeast lees) and "dosage" (adding base wine and sugar) the final product is left on the cork and then released.

An aroma of fruit driven style with peach, hints of citrus as well as creaminess. On the palate is expresses both intensity and delicacy. 95 months of bottle aging on the lees is evident with toasted nutty characters infused with stone fruits complimented by rich, creamy biscuit flavours. Lingering finish with a lively mousse.

A wine for all occasions, not just the special ones - compliments fresh oysters, sushi, poached salmon or any seafood based canapės.

Nolan - Text from the Spotlight on Jacques Bruere and the Fabulous Fizz of South Africa blog.

The Jacques Bruere range of fantastic fizz's are produced by the Bon Courage estate in a region called Robertson. Robertson is at the Eastern end of the Breede River Valley in South Africa’s Western Cape. Robertson is a well-known region for producing powerful, gutsy reds, it is not hard to ripen grapes here. Producing a high acid, lower alcohol wine is trickier. Remember the secondary fermentation needed to produce the fizz? If the alcohol level rises too high during this second fermentation, the yeast will die and your wine will suck.

Robertson itself is defined by high peaks and rocky crags. These imposing peaks and crags that thrust up from the valley floor cast long shadows across sections of the valley. Where these shadows lay is predictable. In the sites that have been identified as being shadier, Bon Courage have planted the grapes destined for their sparkling wines, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Protected from the fierce African sun, the grapes have a longer hang time on the vines, developing a lovely ripeness, but retaining the essential acidity and crucially, keeping the sugar levels and therefore, potential alcohol levels in check.

There are three sparkling wines in the Jacques Bruere range. A classic white Brut and a Brut Rose which are both a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, two of the main staples in Champagne. The third wine is a Blanc de Blancs produced solely from Chardonnay. All very classic. The production methods used are all very classic too, the grapes are hand harvested instead of machine harvested, this means that there is less danger of the grape skins being damaged which would leech tannins, and in Pinot Noirs case colour into the leaking juice.

Where this range of wines massively deviates from the vast majority of Traditional Method sparkling wines we stock in the shop, is in the level of bottle aging. Remember, the minimum bottling aging for a Crement is 9 months, a Champagne is 36 months, well the Brut and Rose from this range are aged a whopping 96 months in the bottle! 8 years! This is top level Prestige Cuvee aging in Champagne! Yet these wines are around £20.00 per bottle not £200.00. Oh, and the Blancs de Blancs is an obscene 120 months bottle aging...

What does the extended aging on these wines mean then? Well, they are rich and toasty beyond what their modest price tag should dictate. These are wines with the flavour of celebration but with the price tag of a weekend treat. These are high quality wines then where you do not need a special occasion to pop the cork. These are marvellous wines that allow you indulge in the taste of the stars whenever the feeling takes you.

The Brut Reserve is a surprisingly fruit driven style for how long the wine has been aged with peach, hints of citrus as well as creaminess. The palate expresses both intensity and delicacy. 96 months of bottle aging on the lees is evident with toasted nutty characters infused with stone fruits and complimented by rich, creamy biscuit flavours. Lingering finish with a lively mousse.

A wine for all occasions, not just the special ones - compliments fresh oysters, sushi, poached salmon or any seafood based canapės.