2021 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance (500ml)

Vin de Constance from Klein Constantia has a history dating back over 300 years. In the 18th and 19th centuries “the sweet luscious and excellent wine of Constantia” was recognised as one of the great wines of the world, savoured by royalty and given pride of place in the cellars of the world’s greatest wine collectors. Although production ceased during the mid-to-late 1800s, it was revived in the 1980s during the redevelopment of Klein Constantia Estate. Early records were studied and careful selection made from vines which, in all likelihood, came from the original stock used in Constantia 300 years ago. Vin de Constance is a late-harvest style made from Muscat de Frontignan (aka Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains) grapes, without botrytis.

Other Reviews....
This wine has been made the same way since 1737. The Klein Constantia 2021 Vin de Constance reflects a great vintage on the Cape. The three-week period in March when fruit is harvested is Winemaker Matthew Day's favorite time of year. He loves the way the sunshine hits this beautiful part of the vineyard. Muscat de Frontignan is planted to 40% bush vines and 60% trellised vines (this section is harvested last). They make as many as 25 to 30 passes through the vineyard at harvest. Because Muscat lacks acidity, they pick the bush vines early. Magic happens, he says, during maceration, when aromas of candied fruit and honey fill the winery. This is a beautifully balanced wine that stands on three pillars, all carefully aligned: sugar, acidity and alcohol. This vintage has 165 grams per liter of residual sugar and between 14% and 14.5% alcohol. Micro-oxidation is encouraged through the oak, especially during the first one and a half years of maturation. After that, the wine is put in foudre to integrate for one and half years.
The result is a sweet wine that almost tastes dry thanks to its inner complexity and generous composition. Background tones of teak, perfumed sandalwood, nougat and Turkish tea will appear stronger as the wine continues its bottle evolution. According to Matthew Day, Vin de Constance usually peaks after five years in bottle, and then it starts a second round and opens up again. "It's absolutely mind-blowing," he says. This clone comes from a massal selection. In 2012, the team isolated the best-performing blocks, and they selected six clones, later narrowed down to two. The bouquet is understated, so delicate, so fine. Drink 2025-2060.
97+ points
Monica Larner - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2021 Vin de Constance comes from 27 different batches with two weeks on the skins. With 173.5 grams per liter of residual sugar (the same as 2020), it presents a very pure bouquet, effervescent with quince, orange zest and just a hint of marmalade—wonderfully delineated and focused. The palate is supremely well balanced with a viscous entry and extremely good weight in the mouth, but the acidity (6.3 grams per liter) keeps this on its toes. Quite spicy on the finish, this lingers long in the mouth, and I can still feel it 30 seconds after it has departed. There’s real freshness and electricity here. Outstanding. Drink: 2025-2045.
97 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

Dried apples, apricots, honey and light caramel with some flowers on both the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, sweet but not overpowering, showing lots of freshness and focus. Tangy at the end, but so polished and caressing on the palate. Drink or hold.
95 points
JamesSuckling.com

Powerful apricot, chamomile, white tea, pineapple, preserved lemon, white flowers, gentle gunsmoke, intense, concentrated, vivid, just superb quality, spinning and stretching out on the finish. A wonderful vintage of Vin de Constance. Matthew Day winemaker, owners are Zdenek Bakala, Charmes Harman, Hubert de Boüard, Bruno Prats and Hans Astrom. Drink: 2024 - 2050.
98 points
Jane Anson - Inside Bordeaux