Riebeeck Cellars Kasteelberg Swartland Methode Cap Classique 2008 85 points

Riebeeck Cellars Kasteelberg Swartland Methode Cap Classique 2008 85 points


Clear, bright straw with slight peachy yellow rim/hue, low plus concentration, low viscosity, consistent bubbles, touch coarse (perhaps the maturation cellar was not cold and consistent enough), no sediment.

Clean, medium intensity, lemony, green apples, freshly baked bread with apples / cider note, fleshy white stone fruit, such as poached pears, some granite minerality, brush of oak and hints of nutmeg dust spice.


Dry, medium acidity, low plus alcohol with persistent appley note and brush of organic honey, light toast with a textured mid palate, medium length, medium complexity.


Served at 6 to 8 degrees celsius with a bake home made tagliatelli, in a white truffled bechamel sauce and slivers of Chalmar beef fillet, Oyster and Portabellini mushroom, gratinated with feta and white cheddar, now until 2015.


Readers, should note that there are very very few Methode Cap Classique being made from Swartland grapes, as it is not an established region, district or wards for the production of quality bottle fermented sparkling wine, however the new wave release hitting the market, shows as much promised as the region well established and world class Rhone inspired white and red blends, who knows, may be in 5 years time Swartland will be recognised as one of the leading wine district into the production of Methode Cap Classique sparkling wine wine.

This debut from Riebeeck Cellar, is very exciting and promising, coupled with a very friendly and exceptional value price tag, this is a blend of Chardonnay with Pinot Blanc, yet shows fine acidity and none of the greeness and under ripeness of a fair amount of MCC out there, it’s sunshine in a bottle, yet very sexy and attractive.

For the quality it is far superior than Pongratz MCC, that the majority of uninformed consumer enjoy, now it’s about time to take away the stigma of labels and start enjoying your hard earn Rand on quality wine, other than a huge and bland commercial wine with no character, that could have been made anywhere in the world.

Riebeeck Cellars team, well done and kept up the drive and maintain the very high standard