2016 Vin de Constance, Klein Constantia
About Producer
This 146ha estate was originally part of Constantia, a vast property founded in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, the first governor of the Cape who gave his name to the town of Stellenbosch. In 2012, a new group of shareholders, including Hubert de Boüard and Bruno Prats, entrusted Hans Astrom as managing director to roll out further transformations, with Matt Day as winemaker. Together, Hans and Matt have done an outstanding job and taken Klein Constantia to a new level, notably by making Vin de Constance ‘a sweet wine that does not taste sweet’, with less sucrosity and easier to drink in its youth.
Varietals
100% muscat de Frontignan aged for 3 years, 50% in 500L barrels and 50% in new French oak foudres. Further 6 months in tank before bottling.
About Appellation
After an interruption of more than a century mostly due to phylloxera, the rebirth of Klein Constantia came in 1990 with the release of the first Vin de Constance, as an attempt to recreate the mythical Constantia sweet wine that was highly acclaimed in the 18th and 19th centuries, with loyal followers across Europe and the US.
Tasting Notes
Captivating nose of acacia honey, quince, orange marmalade, ginger and white flowers, unctuous mouthfeel with superb precision, amazing purity and vibrant acidity, crisp flavours of exotic fruits, citrus peel, hints of cinnamon and vanilla leading onto a long, sapid finish. This is a splendid wine with remarkable balance, composed poise and excellent concentration. It‘s delicately sweet without ever straying into heavy or cloying, and there is an exquisite bead of racy freshness carrying through the palate that adds a thrilling overlay to the aftertaste. (01/2022)