Vin de Constance - Afrique du Sud 2019
Vin de Constance, a MUST HAVE in any winelover's cellar
Dating back to 1685 and described as one of the world’s most beautiful wine estates, Klein Constantia is set amidst ancient trees on the upper foothills of the Constantiaberg, with views across False Bay.
The 146-hectare estate originally formed part of Constantia, the vast property established by the first governor of the Cape, Simon van der Stel, who chose the valley not only for its beauty, but also for its decomposed granite soils on slopes gently cooled by ocean breezes. The perfect location for cool climate wines, Klein Constantia produces some of South Africa’s top wines, including one of the world’s best natural sweet wines, Vin de Constance.
This wine has always been popular among the greatest writers and politicians: Napoléon 1st had some bottles delivered weekly at Saint-Hélène during his exile, Charles Baudelaire mentionned it in its famous Les Fleurs du Mal, it was appreciated by Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, the King of England George IV and the Queen Elizabeth II, but also Goerges Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, Nelson Mandela and so on.
Vin de Constance elixir is placed in its iconic bottle with its unique and particular form redesigned by an Italian designer to look alike the original bottle while adding it a touch of modernity. Since then, the design has been registered and globally protected, which emphasizes the uniqueness of Vin de Constance.
As a tribute to this immense history, the bottle will be adorned with a new packaging from the 2019 vintage. More refined, this new label is a reminiscence of the old one, with a modern touch that anchors the estate in the present.
2019 vintage
Spring was cold, wet and windier than usual which impacted flowering and resulted in small berries, which subsequently reduced our crop. Ripening was slower than normal and stretched the harvest period to much later in the season. There was a level of unpredictability due to the late harvest and autumn weather conditions. We had to be disciplined with our assessment of perfect ripeness to ensure we brought the grapes in at optimal times.
Tasting notes
“Bright light gold in colour. A delicately perfumed yet elevated nose with flavours of white peach, citrus blossom and orange zest. There is an intriguing creaminess on the nose followed by nutmeg and lemon curd. The palate abounds with complex flavours of oak spice, ginger and bright fruit. A delicate balance between sugar and acidity creating a seemingly dryer style of Vin de Constance. The wine concludes with a long and evolving finish with texture and a delicate spice.”
Matt Day, Winemaker
Have a glimpse of Klein constantia: https://youtu.be/O8Yei3oTdTo