The Old Diocesan Issue 13 - Magazine - Page 74
LE LUDE UNCORKED
Epicure and Tim Atkin advisor Brandon de Kock tells us the story of
Le Lude, the Franschhoek estate producing globally acclaimed Cap Classique
There’s an old adage, scientifically
proven, that it’s impossible to say
the word “bubbles” in an angry
way. It has something to do with
phonetics, and the fact that b and
l are gentle lip movements that
naturally mimic smiling and
relaxation. And it can’t be a
coincidence that la méthode Cap
Classique – our very own version
of the classic French technique of
making sparkling wine – tends to
make you feel relaxed and smile
every time you pour a glass. But
not all CCs are created equal –
and the ones that truly stand
out don’t get there by chance.
The first Le Lude grapes were
harvested back in 2012, and I’ll
never forget the first time I popped
the cork on their Brut Rosé. Maybe
it was the shape of the bottle or
the embossed detail, but it felt
like they were serious about
establishing a thoroughbred
brand. And over the past decade
and a half, they’ve done exactly
that. The vineyards have matured,
the range has expanded and the
experience has been finely tuned,
– but one thing hasn’t changed:
Le Lude remains one of the rare
estates that is 100% focused on
showing the world how good
Cap Classique can be.
The end result is far more than
just a fine bottle of bubbles – it’s
a full-on Franschhoek experience
waiting to welcome you with
open arms.
Is there a direct connection to
Bishops? Soon enough. The wine
farm is owned by the Barrows,
Nic and Ferda. Their daughters
are deeply involved in the family
business, and their grandson is
currently on the waiting list –
an OD in the making, as it were.
Let’s get to the heart of it. There
are plenty of places to taste wine
in the Franschhoek Valley, but
Le Lude offers something special.
From non-vintage Brut and a Rosé,
the range has extended to vintage
cuvées when they feel it’s truly
exceptional, to the flagship Blanc
de Blancs Madáme range. This year
has seen only the third vintage
released, but it’s a wine that’s
already caught the attention
of some serious tastebuds.
Le Lude prides itself on
offering visitors a vertical tasting
opportunity, so you can get to
grips with how their wines have
changed over time – in the bottle,
in the cellar and in the glass. To
complete the experience, they
recently re-imagined the tastingroom menu so you can settle in
for a fully fledged food-and-wine
experience. Cap Classique cuts
through richness in a remarkable
way, and when it’s bone-dry, it
does the tango with a classic
French onion soup. Perfection.
If you’re looking to take the
dining experience a step further,
