Klein Constantia - Vin de Constance

97 RP Points
94 RP Points
94 RP Points
96 RP Points
97 RP Points
Klein Constantia - Vin de Constance - 2017 - 50cl - Onshore Cellars

Klein Constantia - Vin de Constance

Vintage
Size
Regular price €102.00
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More information

Provenance
Type
Country
Appellation
Producer
Technical
Grapes
ABV
14%
Serving
10° - 12° C
Drinking
2075
Food Pairings
ShellfishSushi and SashimiFoie GrasAsian CuisineCitrus-Based DishesBrieCamembertBlue CheeseFruit-Based DessertsCreme BruleeCakes
Key Characteristics
Full-bodiedSweetLivelyLong finishBalancedMedium(+) alcohol

Behind the bottle

Klein Constantia

Klein Constantia

Klein Constantia is a South African wine estate located in the Constantia ward of the Coastal Region, situated on the slopes of the Constantiaberg mountains near Cape Town....

Klein Constantia is a South African wine estate located in the Constantia ward of the Coastal Region, situated on the slopes of the Constantiaberg mountains near Cape Town. The estate operates in one of South Africa's oldest and most historically significant wine regions, producing wines that reflect the area's unique terroir and maritime climate influence.

The Constantia region is renowned for its naturally sweet dessert wines, particularly those made from Muscat grapes. The area's cool maritime climate, influenced by False Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, creates ideal conditions for the development of botrytis cinerea, the noble rot that concentrates sugars and flavors in grapes destined for sweet wine production. This microclimate, combined with granite-based soils and southeastern slopes, allows for extended ripening periods that are crucial for premium dessert wine production.

Klein Constantia's current range includes Vin de Constance, a Muscat-based sweet wine that represents the estate's connection to the historic Constantia sweet wine tradition. This style of wine has deep roots in the region's viticultural heritage, dating back centuries when Constantia wines were prized by European nobility.

Klein Constantia
Coastal Region

Coastal Region

The Coastal Region encompasses South Africa's most prestigious wine-producing areas, stretching along the southwestern coast near Cape Town. This broad wine region includes several distinguished districts and wards,...

The Coastal Region encompasses South Africa's most prestigious wine-producing areas, stretching along the southwestern coast near Cape Town. This broad wine region includes several distinguished districts and wards, most notably Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Constantia. The region benefits from its proximity to both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, which provide moderating maritime influences crucial for quality viticulture in this otherwise warm climate.

The Mediterranean climate features warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, with significant diurnal temperature variation that helps preserve acidity in the grapes. The diverse terroir ranges from granite-based soils in Stellenbosch to the red soils of Paarl and the decomposed granite of Constantia's mountain slopes. Constantia, positioned on the slopes of Table Mountain, holds particular historical significance as one of the world's oldest wine regions outside of Europe, with vineyards established in the 1680s.

The region supports a wide array of grape varieties, from Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage to Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. Constantia has earned special recognition for its dessert wines, particularly those made from Muscat varieties, which benefit from the area's unique microclimate created by the meeting of warm and cool air currents from False Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. These sweet wines represent a continuation of a winemaking tradition that dates back centuries and once made Constantia wines among the most sought-after in Europe.

Explore Coastal Region
Constantia

Constantia

Constantia is South Africa's oldest wine region, located in the Coastal Region of the Western Cape, just south of Cape Town. The area was first planted with vines...

Constantia is South Africa's oldest wine region, located in the Coastal Region of the Western Cape, just south of Cape Town. The area was first planted with vines in the 1680s by Dutch governor Simon van der Stel, who established the original Constantia estate. The region is divided into several historic wine farms, with Klein Constantia being one of the most notable properties continuing the area's winemaking tradition.

The Constantia valley benefits from a unique terroir shaped by its position between Table Mountain and False Bay. The maritime influence from the nearby ocean moderates temperatures, while the granite and sandstone soils provide excellent drainage. The region is particularly suited to producing sweet dessert wines from Muscat varieties, following methods that date back centuries. The traditional Vin de Constance style involves late-harvest grapes that develop concentrated sugars and complex flavors through extended ripening.

Constantia's sweet wines display characteristic honeyed richness balanced by natural acidity from the cool climate. These dessert wines typically show intense aromatics of orange blossom, dried fruits, and spice, with a glycerous texture that develops greater complexity with age. The region's historical reputation was built on these naturally sweet wines, which were once among the most sought-after dessert wines in Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries.

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