Villiera Gold MCC NV

The Villiera Gold MCC turned a few heads when it was released at WineX in 2024, with festive 22 carat edible gold flakes in the wine. I dubbed this wine Goldiflakes, with a play on the name Goldilocks. Unlike many of its contemporaries, it is not a wine that comes in a golden bottle (and often at a much higher price because of that) but a clear bottle with the gold from the wine itself and the golden flakes. When I poured this wine for the Decanter Wine Club, I have never seen so much excitement to start tasting – and this must be the most social media photos of a wine that was shared in a long time. So, there are some bragging involved in drinking this wine. To top it all, it does not disappoint the festive feel with something that is too dry – it is just the right sweetness to please a diverse group of drinkers.

The grapes for this wine have been picked by hand while slightly unripe, to preserve a fresh acidity. Whole bunches were pressed and only the cuvée was used for the blend. It was matured on the lees for at least 12 months, after which the wine was disgorged and topped up with a dosage and the edible gold flakes.

In the glass, the bubbles are alive and a shining gold colour is evident, with ample golden flakes for every single glass. The nose offers a vibrant blend of citrus, pears and stone fruit. It has an elegant entry on the palate and the gold flakes do not disturb the tasting sensation, so it works very well with the bubbles. The citrus notes are the first to come through, followed by ripe pears, tropical fruit and a yeasty hint. The sweetness ties this wine together and offers a long lingering on the palate throughout.

This wine should be served cold and preferably in a flute glass, although the sweetness will also be able to support the coupé glass. It is, however, important to rotate the bottle a few times before pouring, to bring the gold flakes to the top. It is an ideal welcome drink but could also work well with desserts, especially a creamy dessert that is not too sweet. I trust that this wine will become the new benchmark for any type of celebration, and the price is just right!

Producer: Villiera

Variety: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

Vintage: NV

Origin: Western Cape, South Africa

Winemaker: Jeff Grier

Closure: Cork

Alcohol: 11.47%

RS: 36.5g/l

Average price: R350

Rating: 94/100