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Twee Jonge Gezellen PO Box 16, Tulbagh 6820 Tel: 023 230 0680 Fax: 023 230 0686 e mail: tjg@mweb.co.za Wine tasting & sales: Mon to Fri 0900 to 1600 Sat 1000 to 1400 Closed Sunday, Christmas/New Year's Day, Good Friday. Cellar Tours: Mon to Fri 1100 & 1500 Sat 1100. Owners: Twee Jonge Gezellen (Pty) Ltd (Nicky Krone) Winemakers: Nicky Krone Marketing: Mary Krone Production: 1200 tons While the distinguished Krone Borealis Cap Classique bubble remains the speciality at this three centuries old family estate, its current 90% white wine vineyard complexion is poised to change. In 1998 30 ha. of red wine varieties - shiraz, merlot, pinot noir - were established, the Krones practicing the solution they preach to the problem of the Cape's general wine surplus: "Uproot unpopular cultivars; plant sought after varieties". Night-harvesting, a practice pioneered in the Cape in 1985 by Nicky Krone, continues to give TJ-by-night a harvest festival atmosphere, the vineyards twinkling with pickers wearing miner's head-lamps. No machines supplanting people here: Nicky and Mary Krone strongly believe that South African wine producers have a job-creation responsibility, and their labour intensive, hand crafted approach to the making of their wines reflects this conviction. Newly tweaked labels, with a crackle effect evoking a starry night-harvest sky are among recent innovations; a romantic pink sparkler joins the range, and a new winemaker, Leon Mostart, ex Zandwijk, has added to the cellar expertise. Building on a long history of achievement (back in 1959, for example, 15 medals at the Cape Wine Show, forerunner to today's national championship), and imbued with the Krones' personal blend of thoughtfulness and creativity, TJ is renewing itself for the new millennium. Mary Krone's description of their veteran TJ 39 blend sums up: "The old favourite given new life"* John Platter, South African Wines, 2000 The notion that fine, bottle fermented sparkling wine, produced by what is termed Method Cap Classique in South Africa, might hail from the small village of Tulbagh, in the outer winelands seems unlikely. However, at this 200 year old estate, just north of town, they've been producing a fresh racy, bubbly since 1987 from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The estate's owner, Nicky Krone, became the first South African to strike a partnership with a Champagne house - Mumm - in 1995, bottling a Brut closely styled on the estate's own Krone Borealis. Twee Jonge Gezellen is the oldest family farm in the pioneer district of Tulbagh and the second oldest family-owned wine estate in South Africa. Twee Jonge Gezellen was named after two young bachelors, in Dutch; Twee Jonge Gezellen. The pioneering spirit, handed down from generation to generation, led to the planting of the first vines on the estate in 1710. Krone Borealis sparkling wine, winner of the Diners CLub Methode Cap Classique Sparkling Wine Category was a dream which Nicky had cherished since his student days. The estate boasts the first underground sparkling wine cellar in Africa, where Nicky Krone's Methode Cap Classique, Krone Borealis, is matured for 2 years and more. At Twee Jonge Gezellen, grapes are hand picked under the stars in the cool of the night to retain flavour and aroma. A little poetic licence used to describe this sparkling wine which is full of "stars". Twee Jonge Gezellen Pinot Noir 1997 is made in a softer style and gently oaked to add extra depth, with an abundance of raspberry and blackcurrant fruit flavours. The Krones were also responsible for another new development in the creation of a community centre for farm labourers. Struck by the success he had witnessed on a visit to a kibbutz in Israel, Nicky immediately drew up plans to establish a venue where the farm community could congregate and share social as well as group activities. The whole philosophy is to produce a "hand-crafted" product, effectively using as many people as possible. The only criteria which would influence the thoughts is regard to mechanization would be if quality were negatively affected. Thus far, however, the human touch has proved to be the best by far. A firm belief in the obligations of South Africans to create employment opportunities for the large, semiskilled labour force in this country, prompted the Krones to embark on a very labour intensive sparkling wine project. As with most of the other major producers in the valley, the emphasis here lies in white varieties, the majority of the vineyard planted to Muscats (de Frontignac and d'Alexandrie). However Semillon and Riesling are also grown. Some 15 varieties are planted at Twee Jonge Gezellen by Krone, an inveterate tinkerer who pioneered night time harvesting in South Africa and whose father was among the developers of the then revolutionary cold-fermentation in the 1960's, foreshadowing the advance from traditional, oxidised sweet wines.
The wines
Platters says "Romance in a bottle and, naturally, good for you, too, a bottle-fermented sparkling blend of 50-50 chardonnay and pinot noir with (Mary Krone underlines the letters), NB "No Added Preservatives". This may be what makes it the best selling bubbly of choice for health devotees; but for the rest of us - well, it's just delicious. Starting with classic biscuity ("Marie biscuit," specifies our taster) aromas, 94 spreads over the palate with lovely, leesy creaminess on a good toasty base, finishes as cleanly as a Granny Smith apple. The bubbles, though energetic and persistent, are correctly "the finest of fine", and build to a magnificent explosive mousse in your mouth. Finer, riper, more subtle than most Cap Classiques, consistently shines in competition: 93 won Nicky Krone 1995 Diners Club Winemakers of Year award. Also bottled under Longridge, Oak Village and Mount Disa labels. Named after the constellation of stars, the Corona Borealis (Krone, crown, corona, all synonyms) created by god of wine Bacchus, who flung his gem-studded crown into the heavens to impress one of the ladies in his life. Even legendary deities, it seems, believed diamonds were a girl's best friend."
Platters says "A dainty bouquet in 99, but intriguingly perfumed - ripe pineapple, hint of honeysuckle. Crisp, fresh-grapey muscat (de frontignac) flavours slide smoothly over off-dry palate, finish with zest. 12.7% alc. Named after Krone's Geisenheim wine college professor, who provided the cuttings for the muscat vineyard."
Platters says "First TJ red release for decades, snapped up by a foreign buyer; minute quantity for sale from cellar. Gently oaked."
Platters says "99 Rhine riesling (39 is the clone number), chenin blend retains long track record of dependability with vitality, good dry white table companion. Lunchtime - light alc at 11.8%. Delicate lemony nose, perky fresh palate, no longer features muscat."
Platters says "Not only for the diet conscious, though endorsed by the Heart Foundation. 99 Sylvaner/Muscat ottonel blend, daintily perfumed (hint of pineapple), soft, gentle, off dry taste with clean dry finish. Low-low 8.5% alc., more charisma than many lights."
Platters says "In 99 a chenin-gewurz blend, officially semi sweet but tastes off dry. Whisper of rose, lemon fragrance, clean and fresh and light (11.5% alc.)."
Platters says "Botrytis dessert, "made only in vintages when Mother Nature allows".
Platters says "NEW "Not just any carbonated bubbly - a designer sparkling wine" insists Mary Krone. "We're calling it TJ Rose - a rose by any other name?" 99 dry ("salmon") pink trio of pinot noir, chenin, chardonnay; some extended lees contact for authentic yeasty effect."
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