The Vin de Constance is without a doubt the most iconic South African wine, worldwide. I recently watched a sommelier competition and the three finalists had to substitute a Sauternes with a Vin de Constance - it was interesting to note that all of them qualified this wine as "special" or "iconic". This wine became a favourite of European kings such as Frederick the Great, Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte, and president Nelson Mandela. It is said that Napoleon murmured about the wine from Constantia at his deathbed - a bottle that was likely destined to Napoleon in exile in St. Helena (1821 vintage) recently sold at Strauss & Co Auctioneers for R967,300! It is also said that, when Nelson Mandela started to cut down on alcohol due to health reasons, he still preferred a sip of Vin de Constance.
Jane Austin (Sense and Sensibility, 1811) recommended Constantia wines for a broken heart. Other authors, such as Charles Dickens and Charles Baudelaire, also wrote about this phenomenal wine. What was for me the most striking about this bottle is the bottle itself. The Jooste family from Constantia wanted a specific bottle that resembles the old hand-blown bottles of Constantia, so they contacted the Dutch merchant, Frédérick de Coninck to assist with a design. De Koninck got Ernest Zeh from Columbit who made several samples and the final one was identified within five minutes. This bottle is trademarked by the European Community Trade Mark Office.
My very first Vin de Constance was the 2017 vintage, which was the youngest vintage available at the time. It was so immensely fresh and powerful, that I was almost too scared to present the 2015 vintage at a club tasting. Fortunately, the 2015 was much smoother and slightly more matured, so it was easier to enjoy. The 2015 vintage is the first one to be made in the renovated cellar at Klein Constantia, with equipment that are dedicated to the making of this sweet dessert wine. It is also the earliest harvest of the Muscat de Frontignan grapes at Klein Constantia since 1986, due to a drought that lasted 3 years.
The Vin de Constance has a bright gold colour and a very sweet entry. The acidity is immensely well balanced and a fruit explosion on the tongue. Fresh citrus is harmonious with honeycomb, stone fruit, litchi, ginger, grapefruit and tropical fruits. It has a creamy mouthfeel and is elegant on the palate. It has a long finish with hints of almonds and spices. Because this wine is so powerful, it can be paired with a large variety of desserts or be drunk as an aperitif. I should be served a little bit colder than most white wines and can also be enjoyed with a small block of ice if desired.
Vin de Constance is currently one of the wines that excels on the secondary market. It retains very good value and, if you are in the position to do so, I would suggest that you store it for at least 10 years before drinking it.
Producer: Klein Constantia
Variety: Muscat de Frontignan 100%
Vintage: 2015
Area: Constantia, Cape Town, South Africa
Winemaker: Matthew Day
Closure: Natural cork with wax seal
Alcohol: 13,97%
RS: 127.7g/l
Average price: R1,200
Website: https://www.kleinconstantia.com/our-wines/vin-de-constance/vin-de-constance/
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