It’s that time of the year when things speed up again and it’s time to have a good bottle of fizz before the daily grind kicks back in.

Michael Olivier suggests that we start the year off with the loud pop of a bottle of fizz..

The price: Around R180 a bottle

First Impression: Cheerful fizz, serious product. Fun packaging.

The Story: Melissa Nelsen – middle name Genevieve – was born of parents who were captivated by their time in France and gave their daughter the name of Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris. Melissa lives in Bot River on a farm which has a patch of Chardonnay. Über winemaker Ross Gower helped her turn them into a stunning classical champagne style wine.

The Taste: Delicate and elegant, it smells and tastes of white fleshed peaches. Nice fresh baked brioche tastes too.

Michael says: Melissa and the Gowers made 5500 bottles of the Genevieve in 2008. Extensive time on the lees has ensured character and style. The inaugural 1500 bottles have just been released after 18 months on the lees whilst the next batch will lie for a further time on lees creating a benchmark for further vintages to come.

Did You Know?: Lying on the lees, means that during the second fermentation in the bottle, the wine is left to lie with the expired yeast cells which add flavour.

The small print: 100% Chardonnay from the Overberg. Whole bunch pressed.

Contact details: Melissa 083 302 6562. melissa@genevievemcc.co.za or www.genevievemcc.co.za

Thanks to Michael for all the wine reviews, don’t forget to buy his book – The People’s Guide!

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