Le Lude Madáme 2015
By Christian Eedes, 16 June 2024
-
Share:
6
Franschhoek cellar Le Lude is a specialist Cap Classique producer founded by Nic and Ferda Barrow, first bottling being 2012. Bubbly obsessive Paul Gerber was initially winemaker (before leaving for Colmant in 2019) and it was therefore he that put the newly released Madáme 2015 into a bottle.
Consisting of 95% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Noir, 40% sourced from Franschhoek, 40% from Roberston and 20% from Bonnievale, a small component was fermented in older barrels and left on the lees for nine months.
Complex aromatics of citrus, flinty reduction, freshly baked bread and sea-breeze precede a palate that is lean with bracing acidity and a super-dry finish (alc: 12%). It’s remarkably precise being taut and intensely flavoured at the same time. Price: R790 a bottle.
CE’s rating: 96/100.
Check out our South African wine ratings database.
-
Share:
Related articles
Reviews
Badbay Chardonnay 2023
24 April 2025
Want access to this content? Reviews and Reports are initially reserved for subscribers. Get immediate access to exclusive insights and data. SUBSCRIBE NOW Already subscribed? Login
Reviews
Thelema Merlot Reserve 2022
22 April 2025
Want access to this content? Reviews and Reports are initially reserved for subscribers. Get immediate access to exclusive insights and data. SUBSCRIBE NOW Already subscribed? Login
Reviews
Sijnn new releases
18 April 2025
Want access to this content? Reviews and Reports are initially reserved for subscribers. Get immediate access to exclusive insights and data. SUBSCRIBE NOW Already subscribed? Login
Dieter Gugelmann | 19 June 2024
I just googled Le Lude an here ist the answer:
Le Lude is a French commune with 4,048 inhabitants in the arrondissement of La Flèche in the Sarthe department in the Pays de la Loire region. Le Lude is a small town on the Loir, with a listed old center located around the castle and the castle park.
Gareth | 19 June 2024
Yes, after Christian mentioned it was a village in the Loire I also googled it – it looks to be a very pretty place. France is full of beautiful little villages and towns, it’s one of my favourite holiday destinations.
Gareth | 18 June 2024
I have to agree with Tim, the accents are a total mess. Any francophone would curl their toes at this. The way it’s written, millesime with the two accents means, roughly, ‘vintaged’, which I don’t think was their intention.
Fwiw, does anyone know what Le Lude actually means? “Lude” is no French word that I have heard before, male or female.
Christian Eedes | 18 June 2024
Hi Gareth, Le Lude is apparently named after a village that the owners visited while traveling in the Loire.
Tim James | 17 June 2024
Sounds delicious, but what an odd mixture of French and English on the label. Though, looking at the mangling of other French words, it’s probably a good thing they didn’t try out their Franglais on “Limited edition”. Paul Gerber wouldn’t have got things wrong – or would at least have found someone competent to check. There shouldn’t be an accent on the second “e” of millésime, while there should be one on the second “e” of “fermente” (an unusual usage that anyway, as far as I know; it’s usually “fermentation en bouteille”). And to complete the illiterate play with accents, where on earth did the quite impossible one on “Madáme” come from?
Christian Eedes | 17 June 2024
Ah, Tim, you pedant, you. I say muck around with language all you like. Website says bottling date: 03/12/2015 and disgorgement date: 05/11/2023… Now we’re into maths and all sorts besides.