Domaine des Dieux, Methode Cap Classique, Brut, Claudia, South Africa, 2021

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Domaine des Dieux, Methode Cap Classique, Brut, Claudia, South Africa, 2021

Here is the latest vintage of this superb South African MCC (i.e. made in the same way as Champagne), acknowledged as one of the very best sparkling wines in the Cape. (For example the 2017 vintage and Double Gold and was acclaimed as the best Brut in the Amorim Cap Classique Challenge 2023). From 76% Chardonnay and 24% Pinot Noir, with over four years on its lees, it stands comparison with plenty of far more expensive vintage Champagnes. This vintage is less yeasty than previous, offering more fresh citrus notes and a creamy and expansive breadth. Now-2030

The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, which translates as Heaven on Earth, rises prettily from just west of Hermanus. When we first visited in 2003 the wineries, notably Hamilton Russell and Bouchard Finlayson, were all in the lower part of the valley, but more recently plantings at the top of the valley - higher, drier, with warmer days but cooler nights - have increased. Enjoying naturally low pH soils, and moderate temperatures, cooled by winds from the ocean, this really is a sweet spot in the Cape.

Domaine des Dieux is a small estate just above Ataraxia at the very top of the valley in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge zone. The farm, with vineyards on the slopes of the Babylon's Toren mountain, was bought in 2002, with an initial focus on making the first sparkling wines in Hemel-en-Aarde (and boy have they succeeded) but still Chardonnay and Pinot Noir followed. Des Dieux have an interesting model: they have 20 hectares of unirrigated vines but no cellar (and no electricity on site either!). Winemaking of each of the wines is overseen by a specialist winemaker in local cellars.