Elegant Brut Rosé made
in honour of a beloved mother
Clos Malverne has
unveiled its maiden Méthode Cap Classique – Ellie 2011 – a sophisticated Brut
Rosé made of 100% Shiraz grapes in honour of the beloved mother of Sophia
Pritchard, co-owner of this enduring, family-owned wine estate in the Devon
Valley outside Stellenbosch.
“She was a remarkable
woman and benevolent mother with a calm demeanor who raised nine children with
loving care, a guiding hand and all the patience in the world;
all crucial attributes when it comes to producing time-honoured, handcrafted
wines. With our long awaited Cap Classique we pay homage to her giving nature
and elegant bearing and toast to all the mothers out there,” shares Sophia.
For
the past 27 years, Clos Malverne has been a family affair with owner Seymour
Pritchard and wife Sophia overseeing the entire operation and daughter Belinda
ensuring that the visitors are well looked after and pampered at the day spa at
this popular Winelands destination.
“The
way my mother carried herself was fluid and gentle, yet strong and purposeful
and this is gracefully captured in the taste and character of our Ellie 2011.
She exuded unconditional love and I get that same loving feeling when I enjoy a
flute of this full-flavoured, yet refreshingly dry sparkling rosé. Each sip
takes me back to her smiling, peaceful and reassuring face,” adds Sophia.
Winemaker
Suzanne Coetzee, an avid Cap Classique fan and challenge seeker, jumped at the
opportunity to craft Clos Malverne’s very first Méthode Cap Classique. In her
quest to create a stylish tribute that captures the astuteness, generosity and
charisma of its namesake she focused her attention on a single Shiraz block
which is planted in a cool climate pocket on the farm, the ideal growing
conditions for rosé.
“Instead
of using the more obvious Cap Classique varietals such as Pinot noir and
Chardonnay, I wanted to create something extraordinary and went the red route
and we are delighted with the refined complexity, earthy fragrance and sensual
finesse of the Ellie 2011 Brut Rosé,” explains Suzanne.
The
grapes were hand-picked and the wine spent two years on the lees before it was
degorged and corked, which allowed its mouth-filling roundness to develop to
the full.
Captivating
with a light, feminine pink tinge, this newcomer shows ample fresh fruit
intensity and body, which is perfectly balanced by a subtle acid structure that
leads to a crisp, dry finish. Saffron and strawberry aromas dominate the nose,
while the delicate mousse is an explosion of extra fine bubbles that charm the
palate. The winemaker describes her latest creation as ‘candy floss in the
mouth’.
Try
the Clos Malverne Ellie 2011 Brut Rosé with smoked salmon and corn chowder;
tempura prawns with a strawberry, mango, cucumber and coriander salsa, or
a sundried tomato, caramelized onion and camembert tart with wild rocket
and a port reduction. It is a stellar summer sip and adds life to any party.
With
only 3000 bottles produced from the 2011 vintage, the Clos Malverne Ellie Brut
Rosé is available exclusively at the estate at R184 per bottle.
For more information
or wine orders contact Clos Malverne at Tel: 021 865 2022 or visit www.closmalverne.co.za to
order this Cap Classique via the estate’s online wine sales facility which
delivers your wine to your doorstep in no time.
