It spells brunch, lunch, and sunset wine downs
The South African wine industry celebrates its 50th anniversary of Cap Classique in 2021, the Cape’s unique category for sparkling wines made in the traditional method. These bottle-fermented sparkling wines remain one of the most popular wine categories in the country, and the versatility of the Laborie MCC Rosé 2018 will add sparkle to any romantic evening.
Same elegant style for over 300 years
Laborie offers a versatile, accessible range of wines made in the same elegant style for over 300 years, offering the enjoyment of a sophisticated way of life.
Heart of Paarl
The Estate was granted in 1691. Situated in the heart of Paarl, the brand has longevity and true French heritage.
Cap Classique
Laborie offers a wide range of Cap Classique, be it Rosé, white, red wine, or dessert wine available at most retailers, online, or the Estate itself.
MATCHMAKING LABORIE AND OKONOMIYAKI PANCAKES
- Our Okonomiyaki pancakes are served with homemade teriyaki sauce. The spicy and smoky character of the sauce will enhance the savoury and salty taste of the Cap Classique.
- Adding streaky bacon will soften the acidity, that in combination with the sweeter teriyaki sauce, create a teasing sensation of sweetness and tang.
- The pancake will act as a sponge bringing all the flavours together.
- Chunky pieces of prawn in the pancakes are ideal for enjoying the meat’s sweetness while adding a sweet sensation to the wine.
- The bubbles offer an extra layer of texture, and by adding cabbage, you build in an additional crunch while bringing a fresh herbaceous note out in the wine.
-
You will find many renditions of Okonomiyaki pancakes. You need 150g self-rising flour; two eggs beaten; 100ml cooled chicken stock; one baby cabbage grated; 100g raw prawns chopped, spring onions chopped, olive oil to fry, and a few strips of streaky bacon. A couple of whole prawns and toasted sesame seeds will round it off.
Mix the flour and eggs to a stiff batter and slowly add the chicken stock — salt and pepper to taste. You can adjust the consistency to a firm batter that won’t run in the pan. Mix all the ingredients with the batter apart from the bacon, sesame seed, and whole prawns.
The batter will make four pancakes to shallow fry till slightly golden. Stack two pancakes on a bed of shredded cabbage with the prawn and bacon on top.
Sprinkle with spring onion and sesame seed. Drizzle with homemade teriyaki sauce.
Our Experience
When choosing a Cap Classique, there are many factors to consider, especially seeing that South Africa offers such a plethora of styles. This makes Laborie a firm favourite at a reasonable price.
Steeped in history, the farm Laborie was granted to French Huguenot Isaac Taillefert in 1691, and the elegance associated with fine Champagne remained their prerogative that was passed on throughout the generations following. And now, 300 years later, with winemaker Kobus van der Merwe harnessing their philosophy, the brand has become an institution for those searching for a vibrant and versatile Cap Classique.
We must admit we eat with our eyes, and pretty much the same applies to wine. When selecting a wine, Laborie is a sensorial experience – from the elegant packaging to the play of fruit and soft, fine bubbles. The subtle pink colour echoes the food we love: prawn, salmon, pomegranate, and fresh greenery for a lift. That is why the Laborie Brut Rosé was the first Cap Classique that popped into our heads when we craved Okonomiyaki.
Pancakes is a winner for date night, and these savoury Japanese pancakes can be adjusted to suit your taste and the wine you are with. The name is derived from okonomi, meaning “how you like” or “what you like” and “yaki” meaning cooked, and Georgio and I saw this as an invitation to adjust the recipe to match the Laborie Brut Rosé. That is what date night is all about in our house – we play, and we experiment. Each partner can have a go at making the perfect pancake and be less concerned about how perfect it is. At least you know there is one element that cannot flop – the wine.
As evening falls, the Laborie Brut Rosé takes on an array of beautiful hues. It appears rosier in bright light, and by candlelight, it melds with the mood and takes on a salmon pink. The bubbles, or moose, adds a delicate texture to the palate, giving the wine an extra boost of freshness with an almost chalky, oyster shell texture. Never underestimate pink because this wine exudes extraordinary layers of aromas. Think of melon, rose petal, Turkish delight, nectarine, strawberry, lemon curd, cherry nougat, and flaky pastry.
What makes this quite unique is that the traditional blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay is joined with 11% of Pinotage, adding a fleshy fruit character to this wine, precisely what you need when pairing more intense food flavours.
Albeit sweet fruit nuances linger, the wine is dry yet mouth-filling with a delicious citrus tone.
Visit the KWV Emporium in Paarl for an introduction to the whole range.
