Nitida The Matriarch 2014

Winery location: Durbanville

Wine of Origin: Coastal

Winemaker:  Daniel Keulder

Background: Nitida Wine Farm, perched on top of the hill overlooking the Durbanville Wine Valley, has a reputation for its award winning wines, and as I am always looking for a good excuse to celebrate the year ahead we have chosen their MCC “The Matriach in White” for this week’s wine. The 2014 is the fifth vintage of this delightful bubbly and is produced from 50% Chardonnay (Durbanville) and 50% Pinot Noir from coastal vineyards which adds to the richness of the wine. After the traditional secondary fermentation in the bottle the wine spent a further 9 months on the lees before being disgorged.

The 2014 sports Nitida’s refreshed new label which was designed by Peta Vellor of Nitida. “The overall impression of our new label is designed to give you clues as to the quality and personality of the wine and the colours used are linked to the cultivar of the contents. A beautifully balanced and well integrated design style, using modern fonts coupled with fairly traditional illustrative techniques, represents the marriage of Nitida’s traditional “hand crafted” attitude with our understanding of the needs of our  customers. The honesty of our wines comes across through the innocence of showing the “common or garden” Nitida or waboom tree, based on a specimen growing in our garden. The various “critters” drawn in each label are just a sample of the day to day life we share the farm with. Inquisitive and majestic birds, adventurous and sometimes vicious mammals and a plethora of insects that make our corner of Durbanville renosterveld unique and special. The matt and understated colours and the use of our “waboom ink” all emphasise the realness of our brand” states Peta.

Result: Delicious flavours of creamy lime and citrus are backed by the continuous stream of soft refined bubbles all culminating in a biscuity rich finish.

When to drink: now till 2018

Drink with what: Lovely on its own or with a snack of freshly shucked oysters followed by strawberries and cream!

Expect to pay: R147.00