Simonsig Cuvée Royale Blanc de Blancs 2007

This wine has an intriguing golden straw colour with a delicate mousse gently bubbling to the surface. These dancing white pearls create the wonderful aromas of green Granny Smith apples coated with roasted almonds. Secondary flavours of freshly baked bread intertwine with the crisp flavours of lime blossoms and citrus associated with this glorious cultivar, Chardonnay. The refreshing elegance and decadence of this supreme Blanc de Blancs makes every occasion a celebration.

Fresh succulent oysters are a definite must, but lively, inspiring wines like the Cuvée Royale should be enjoyed with light delicate foods such as fish, shellfish, crayfish, caviar or artichoke hearts. The Cuvée Royale also pairs beautifully with fresh desserts like fruit salad or sorbets or simply on its own just to celebrate a magical moment! Serve at 6 - 8°C. Do not over chill.

To buy our wines in South Africa, please click here

variety : Chardonnay [ 100% Chardonnay ]

winery : Simonsig Family Vineyards

winemaker : Johan Malan

wine of origin : Stellenbosch

analysis : alc : 12.28 % vol rs : 2.95 g/l pH : 3.33 ta : 8.2 g/l

type : Sparkling style : Dry

pack : Bottle closure : Cork

AWARDS

2007
2013 Old Mutual Trophy Wine Awards - Bronze
2013 Top 100 SA Wine Challenge
2012 Veritas Awards - Gold Medal
2005
2012 The International Wine Review - scored 91 points
2010 Veritas - Double Gold
2011 Amorim Cork Cap Classique Challenge - Best Overal Winner, Best Blanc de Blanc
2011 Top 100 SA Wines Competition - Winner
2004
2009 Michelangelo Awards - Gold Medal
2009 Winemakers Choice Awards - Diamond Award

ageing : After maturing in our cellars for more than five years the Cuvée Royale has reached optimum maturity and can be enjoyed now, but careful cellaring will develop more depth of flavour and add complexity.

in the vineyard : Background
Frans Malan, the patriarch of the Malan family of Simonsig Wine Estate pioneered Méthode Champenoise in South Africa in 1971 when he created the first Kaapse Vonkel. For many years he was the only winemaker to make bottle fermented sparkling wine in the Cape. On a study tour during 1990, his son Johan Malan travelled to Champagne and returned with the dream of making a Simonsig Prestige Cuvée from the finest, most delicate Chardonnay cuvees, capable of long evolution to achieve the pinnacle of Cap Classique quality.

Vintage Description
Average winter rainfall replenished soil moisture levels and irrigation dams. Spring was cold and bud break occurred late. Rain and cold conditions affected flowering causing fewer and smaller berries. A heat wave in mid January enhanced the ripening and caused some crop loss due to sunburn. The vintage was 10 days earlier and the cellar was almost caught off guard with the first Chardonnays coming in on 8 January. The components for the Cuvée Royale were picked between 17 to 27 January.

in the cellar : Chardonnay is the noble variety which lends the delicacy and finesse to the Cuvée. As this variety develops very slowly in the bottle, the Cuvée Royale spends five years in the cool cellars before it is disgorged and released.

The heart of Cap Classique lies with the gentle whole bunch pressing which yields only the purest and most delicate juice called the cuvée. For Cuvée Royale only the first most delicate pressing is used. Primary fermentation is done in seasoned French oak barrels (90%) and 10% in tank to add a rich complexity to the Chardonnay. After winter, blending starts with many tastings are done, to ensure the perfect combination of building blocks. Sugar and special yeast is added before undergoing a slow second fermentation in the bottle. The yeast performs the magic of transforming the sugar into billions of fine bubbles. Extended maturation on the yeast sediment over 66 months develops very delicate, complex flavours in the wine. At disgorging a small dosage is added to retain the delicate fruit and finesse.

email the winery

email this page

find our wines in :