On Friday last week we were invited to attend the launch of Delaire Graff’s new Crémant de Loire blend MCC, unique in that it is Chenin Blanc driven, and a unique blend with Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc grapes.  The new MCC is named after the ‘118.08 carat Delaire Sunrise Diamond, the largest square emerald cut  fancy vivid yellow diamond in the world‘, in reflecting the colour of the yellow diamond.

Winemaker Morné Vrey introduced the MCC to us, saying that in the seven years that he has been at Delaire Graff, he knew the day would come that he would be asked to make an MCC.   He wanted to make something different, so traveled to the Loire valley, the making of the MCC being ‘a learning curve for him‘, he said.   Given Delaire Graff’s strong Loire-style wine portfolio, he decided to make the Chenin-dominant (58%) MCC, with 34% Chardonnay and 8% Cabernet Franc.  The Chenin Blanc grapes came from 20 year old Stellenbosch bush vine, while the Chardonnay grapes came from Elgin, and the Cabernet Franc from Stellenbosch. It spent 15 months on the lees. Residual sugar is 5,9 g/liter.

The first Sunrise was bottled last year, but the MCC will be sold NV (Non Vintage).  The MCC will only be sold at Delaire Graff, at R275, in its restaurants by the glass, to be enjoyed at the start of dinner, and for events such as weddings.  Morné was almost nervous to launch the new MCC, but it has received excellent feedback, in it being so unusual and so amazing.  Delaire Graff General Manager Johann Laubser described the latest addition to their wine portfolio as epitomising ‘the excellence and innovation that is inherent in the vineyards and all our wines. It also reflects what is achievable if the adventurous spirit of South African winemakers is given freedom to explore’.

The pack and label design was done by brand tree.  It was a wonderful surprise to see Bernard Immelman again, a talented and experienced new product developer and marketer in the food and wine industry, and who is a Director of the design agency, which had its first roots in KSDP Pentagraph, one of our former PR clients.  He was joined at the launch by Monty Filter, brand tree Creative Director. The elegant bottle proudly bears the Graff scallop logo.  Bernard was our first food PR client many moons ago, when he was at Baker Street Snacks.

Morné also introduced the latest vintages in the Delaire Graff wine portfolio, being the Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Chenin Blanc 2013, Chardonnay 2013, White Reserve 2013, Laurence Graff Reserve 2011, and Cabernet Franc Rosé 2014.

Before we moved outside for lunch, Mr Laubser welcomed Stephan Nühlen of Capreo, a Germany-based online direct marketer of a number of South African wines, and praised him for his exceptional and growing business.

New Executive Chef Michael Deg has been in charge of the Delaire Graff Restaurant kitchen for a month, having worked alongside Chef Christiaan Campbell before his departure.  He and his team served an excellent lunch on the terrace with a beautiful view.  The Starter was trout tartar, served with potato blini, cucumber, and squid ink, which was paired with the new Delaire Graff Sunrise Brut MCC NV.

The Intermediate dish was an unusually prepared carpaccio of octopus, cut in the thinnest slices, and served with poached langoustine, as well as artichoke. This dish was paired with Delaire Graff Coastal Cuvée 2010.

The Main course was a beautifully prepared soft and tender almost rare prime beef fillet, served with beetroot, truffle, parsley, and more-ish Parmesan chips, served in little brass pans.  The dish was paired with Delaire Graff Botmaskop 2010, a 5-star Platter wine blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Shiraz, and Malbec.

The dessert was a well-plated coconut panna cotta, served with pineapple and mango, which was paired with Delaire Graff Chenin Ice Wine.

Delaire Graff has raised its bar once more, in launching the new Sunrise Brut MCC, which should do well in its two restaurants.  It demonstrates that this wine estate does things differently, not having used the more common Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend to make its sparkling wine!

Disclosure:  We received a bottle of Delaire Graff Sunrise Brut MCC with our media pack.

Delaire Graff Estate, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch. Tel (021) 885-8160.  www.delaire.co.za Twitter: @DelaireGraff

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com  Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage Facebook:  click here