The wine, made with 83% Chardonnay and 17% Pinot Noir grapes, is whole-bunch pressed with only the cuvee used in the Vintage blend. It's matured on the lees for 56 months – only 2,361 bottles were released, of which just 60 remain available at the Le Lude tasting room.
Stablemates Le Lude Rose Brut NV received 90 points (silver) and the Le Lude Reserve Brut NV 88 points (bronze) at the same competition. Decanter translates this as “a very accomplished wine with impressive complexity” and “a well-made, straightforward and enjoyable wine” respectively.
The DWWA is trusted internationally for its rigorous judging process. This year, 16,500 entries were received. Michael Hill Smith, master of wine and co-chair of the DWWA, said the competition helped producers to raise their profile internationally. “For consumers faced with the prospect of such choice; choosing a bottle with a DWWA sticker on it, particularly a gold or platinum, should reassure them that the wine has been through a rigorous judging process, against much competition and you can trust the quality.”
In 2011, Nic and Ferda Barrow established Le Lude with the aim of making premium quality bubbly from classic Champagne varieties, specialising in crafting naturally bottle-fermented sparkling wines known as Méthode Cap Classique in South Africa. “Awards such as these show that our pioneering approach is paying off and creating a reputation for wines that are internationally renowned for finesse, elegance and refinement,” said the owners on their win.
