February 23, 2024
Vertical / Vintage Notes on Klein Constantia Vin de Constance
Klein Constantia’s Vin de Constance has long been a hallmark of excellence in the realm of sweet wines. Renowned for its rich history and remarkable quality, this wine has consistently impressed critics and enthusiasts alike. Here we delve into my tasting experiences of Vin de Constance over the past two decades, reflecting on the unique characteristics of each vintage.
2020 Vin de Constance
The 2020 Vin de Constance, made exclusively from Muscat de Frontignan grapes, showcases a rich heritage of meticulous winemaking. This vintage is matured for 18 months in a mix of Hungarian and French oak barrels, followed by another 18 months in foudres, resulting in a wine with 172g/L residual sugar. The bouquet is an exquisite blend of wild honey, white peaches, nectarine, pressed white flowers, and yuzu. The medium-bodied palate offers a silky texture balanced by fresh acidity, revealing flavours of pineapple, peach skin, aniseed, lime, and ginger. Its rose gold hue hints at the complex aromas of dried apricot, caramel, patisserie, sage, and cardamom. Crafted by winemaker Matthew Day, it presents additional fragrant notes of rose oil, allspice, candied ginger, and sultanas. The 2020 vintage is characterized by its sun-sweetened character and vibrant energy, making it a balanced and sophisticated wine with a long, perfumed finish.
2019 Vin de Constance
The 2019 Vin de Constance, made from 100% Muscat de Frontignan, is a remarkable sweet wine known for its pale gold colour and highly fragrant bouquet. The aromas include floral notes of roses and lavender, lychees, mango, and guava, complemented by musk melon and spice cake hints. Butterscotch, lemon patisserie, and peach further enhance its allure. The palate is rich and sweet with a fantastic backbone of acidity, showcasing flavors of succulent pear, quince, apple, peach pit, and tarte tatin. This vintage also exhibits complex layers of dried herbs, wood scents, bitter lemon, orange, and honeyed lychee, with a sophisticated minerality and slight graphite edge. Still youthful, the 2019 Vin de Constance demonstrates precision, style, and freshness, promising a long life ahead. Winemaker Matthew Day has crafted an outstanding wine that elevates the category of sweet wines, blending opulence with balance and complexity.
2018 Vin de Constance
The 2018 Vin de Constance, another masterful creation from Klein Constantia, reflects a vintage marked by the highest summer rainfall in six years and cold night-time temperatures, leading to a prolonged growing season. This resulted in an ethereal wine with extreme delicacy and concentration. Light bunches and tiny Muscat de Frontignan berries underscored the vintage's uniqueness, harvested a fortnight later than average. Aged for three years in a mix of 50% new French oak barrels, acacia barrels, and large foudres, this vintage boasts an incredibly pale color. The nose offers a vibrant bouquet of freshly sliced grapefruit, fig, and citrus fruit. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine acidity, impressive weight, and notes of grapefruit, orange zest, and stem ginger. The texture is satin-like, smooth, and intense with layers of wild honey, orange blossom, caramel, pear, and white peach. This vintage, with its density of sweetness and balanced freshness, is exceptional and promises further evolution with ageing.
2017 Vin de Constance
The 2017 Vin de Constance exemplifies the "lighter and lighter" approach of Klein Constantia, as noted by winemaker Matt Day. Despite a significant sweetness at 165 grams of residual sugar per litre, the wine maintains a remarkable freshness reminiscent of Vouvray or Barsac. The maturation process includes 50% new barrels, which impart layers of citrus, toast, tarte tatin, honey, and vivid acidity to the wine. The bouquet reveals notes of dried apricots, dried pineapple, honey, salted nuts, and white syrup, creating a complex and inviting aroma. On the palate, the wine is very sweet yet energetic and intense, with a lingering finish that balances sweetness with vibrant acidity. The 2017 vintage stands out for its elegance and balance, making it a sensational dessert wine to enjoy now or hold for further ageing. This vintage promises a long life ahead, offering a sublime tasting experience through its multifaceted and intricate flavours.
2016 Vin de Constance
Celebrated as one of the great sweet wines of the world, the 2016 Vin de Constance continues to uphold this legacy with its delightful characteristics. This vintage, containing 165 grams of residual sugar per litre, is slightly drier than its predecessor. It showcases a bouquet with layers of wild honey and acacia, maintaining a pure and youthful essence reminiscent of Muscat. The palate is concentrated and multi-faceted, revealing hints of elderflower, zesty citrus peel, and honey, balanced by crisp acidity. The 2016 growing season was notably early due to El Niño, yet the dry, warm conditions were tempered by Constantia’s cool sea breezes and night-time temperatures. This vintage's freshness and structure suggest it will mature gracefully over the next 12-15 years, becoming even more complex and memorable with time. The 2016 Vin de Constance is an outstanding wine, combining purity, freshness, and intricate flavours in perfect harmony.
2015 Vin de Constance
The 2015 Vin de Constance is heralded as one of the finest vintages of this iconic sweet wine. With 172 grams of residual sugar per litre, it strikes a balance between massive sweetness and crisp acidity. The bouquet offers citrus, orange zest, rosewater, and spice notes, while the palate is laser-focused with a mineral finish. This vintage has been compared favourably to Château d’Yquem for its quality and value. The 2015 vintage is characterized by its pale gold colour and aromas of acacia honey, marmalade, and pressed yellow flowers. The palate reveals balanced sweetness, alcohol, and acidity, with delicate floral tones and a multidimensional profile. The grapes were harvested at different stages to maintain acidity and enhance sweetness. Aged in 50% new French oak, Hungarian oak, and French Acacia barrels, this wine captivates with its viscous entry and vibrant, unctuous finish. The 2015 Vin de Constance is a truly exceptional wine, perfect for immediate enjoyment or long-term ageing.
2014 Vin de Constance
The 2014 Vin de Constance continues to impress with its lively and viscous profile. Bursting from the glass with aromas of marmalade, honeysuckle, orange rind, and tropical fruit, this vintage is beautifully defined. The palate offers layers of fresh apricot, honey, and orange zest, leading to a precise, vibrant finish. The "chutzpah" of the 2014 vintage is evident, with a balance that promises excellent ageing potential. It was awarded Tim Atkin MW's sweet wine of the year. The 2014 vintage shows a waxier texture than previous years, but maintains the characteristic complexity and freshness of Vin de Constance. It is an exceptional wine, offering immediate enjoyment while also holding the promise of further development with age. This vintage is a testament to Klein Constantia’s ability to produce world-class sweet wines with depth, balance, and longevity.
2013 Vin de Constance
The 2013 Vin de Constance stands out for its beautiful bouquet of honey, quince, pressed yellow flowers, and Mirabelle. Matured in 500-liter barrels for around 36 months, this vintage is defined by its purity and balance. The palate features a mellifluous texture with well-judged acidity, showcasing flavours of honey, quince, rhubarb, and ginger. The 2013 vintage shines with golden luminosity, expressing scents of rose petals, mandarin, and citrus. The palate is broad and dense, with flavours of marzipan, Seville orange marmalade, lychees, and exotic spices. The 2013 Vin de Constance is richly sweet yet balanced by fresh acidity, finishing clean and dry. This vintage marks an evolution in style with the addition of essencia and slightly less alcohol and residual sugar. It is a bold and beautifully balanced wine, offering exceptional energy and persistence. Winemaker Matt Day’s second vintage in charge reflects a perfect blend of tradition and innovation, resulting in a stunningly successful wine.