Everyone will be waiting for the man with the red bag, so don’t disappoint! It is the season to be jolly and fill your Christmas stocking with delicious wines available right here in the USA. You don’t have to wait to get to the vineyards of the Western Cape, as the vineyards have come to you. Either of these two wines from Fumana International Wines are spot on choices.
Eikendal MCC 750ml 2018
The exuberant Eikendal Méthode Cap Classique is made in very small quantities. On the nose it lures with citrus and lime notes, peaches and cream and a fresh minerality. The long, slow bottle fermentation produced a very fine, pleasing mousse on the palate.
The grapes were hand-picked in small crates and cooled down to 1°C. The canopy was kept closed throughout the growing season to ensure minimal light intensity which resulted in fresh acidity and remarkable concentrated flavours in the grapes. The grapes were picked early at approximately 19°C.
In the cellar, the grapes were whole bunch pressed with total focus on maintaining fruit purity and delicate aromatics. Only the finest heart of the press juice was used for this noble MCC. It was left to settle for two nights. The fermentation in stainless steel took place at approximately 12°C, relying solely on naturally present wild yeasts.
After fermentation, the base wine was kept on the gross lees for six months. The wine was then bottled for secondary fermentation and aged two years on the lees in the bottle, before it was riddled, disgorged and finally bottled.
Sounds like the perfect wine to kick-start the Christmas cheer. Pair with Pear, Goats’ Cheese and Walnut Salad, Oysters, Raspberry Baked Brie or Gorgonzola Mushrooms.
Vrede en Lust Boet Erasmus 2016
Boet Erasmus was Dana and Etienne Buys’ maternal grandfather. He played a major role in their lives and introduced them to fine wines. It should therefore come as no surprise that the Vrede en Lust flagship red wine was named after this remarkable man. The Boet Erasmus is an elegant new-world style Bordeaux blend. This blend incorporates the classic varietals and showcases abundant fruit that is well-balanced with oak.
The 2016 Boet Erasmus received the Top 100 & Double Platinum award at the 2020 National Wine Challenge.
Primary on the nose are the lifted red and black fruit, tobacco and vanilla, plus a little earthiness. Medium-bodied with pure fruit, bright acidity and fine tannins, the finish long and savory. Poised and understated, this wine has a good future ahead of it.
