2018 Klein Constantia 'Vin de Constance' Muscat de Frontignan Constantia 500ml

Winemaker Notes: Bright and yellow gold in colour. The nose is layered with complex flavours of Seville marmalade, ginger spice and grapefruit. A rich and luxurious mouthfeel, the wine is full bodied, fresh and vibrant. The palate is balanced showcasing a perfect harmony between salinity, acidity, spice and sweetness. Concentrated with suspended density, it concludes with a pithy astringency and a lingering finish.

Our estate was originally part of Simon van der Stel’s vast Constantia estate, granted in 1685. It then formed part of Groot Constantia until 1823, when the land was divided between the brothers Jacob Pieter and Johan Gerhard Cloete. The latter took ownership of the upper reaches, situated on the eastern slopes and foothills of the Constantiaberg, where there were already over 33,000 vines planted. He named this magnificent piece of land Klein Constantia.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


James Suckling - "Very perfumed aromas of lemon zest, ginger and lychee. Some apricots as well. Full-bodied with brightness, freshness and phenolic tension. It’s sweet, but not overly sweet. Salty and umami notes with some salted caramel. Unique wine worldwide"


Decanter - "A gorgeous wine, texturally brilliant with such intensity while not being overpowering or too much. The overall feeling is so satin-like, smooth and intense with layers of wild honey, orange blossom, caramel, pear, white peach and a delicate smokiness. The aromas alone are enough to get your excited about this wine. A density of sweetness settles at the back of the throat reminding you that this is a sweet wine as there’s so much freshness and life to it. Everything in balance and in its place. Exceptional. Drink now to enjoy the youth or wait for further evolution. Drinking Window 2021 - 2050."


Vinous - "The 2018 Vin de Constance was picked over 60 days, the second most prolonged picking since the maiden 1986 vintage. It was lightly pressed into 500-liter barrels for alcoholic fermentation, which can take up to six months, then matured on the gross lees in 60% new oak and acacia barrels. This vintage contains 172g/L residual sugar and 6.2g/L total acidity. It presents a vibrant, effervescent bouquet of freshly sliced grapefruit, fresh fig and citrus fruit, all penetrating, vivacious and tensile. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, impressive weight and notes of grapefruit and orange zest plus hints of stem ginger. The spiciness is accentuated toward the finish. Another outstanding Vin de Constance courtesy of winemaker Matt Day."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "Bright, floral and fresh, the 2018 Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine presents a nose full of focused fruits with power and precision while possessing a beautiful balance of flowers and stone fruit aromas. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is not overly sweet but harmonious and seductively pleasurable. Bright acidity paired with a perfect sparring partner of succulent sweetness duel for attention before ending with a long, ever-evolving, spicy finish that has me coming back for more. I'm not spitting any of this out."