About the Wine

When thinking of the best Natural Sweet Wines in the world, is very likely that brands like Château D’Yquem, Royal Tokaji Eszencia, or Royal DeMaria’s ice wine come to mind. Well, I have another one in mind, this dessert wine is not only a worthy competitor when it comes to outstanding quality and age-ability, but it also won't make you break the bank, this is Klein Constantia Vin de Constance.

2018 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance is an iconic wine and one that has been highly applauded by some of the most important wine critics in the world. Decanter called it “exceptional"in its 98-point review, Robert Parker referred to it as “devastatingly gorgeous,” and advised, “not to pass up the opportunity to try this wine.” And James Suckling stated that it's “always energetic and vivid”and finished  by saying that it “goes on for minutes.” This wine also appeared on James Suckling's "100 Best Wines for 2021," being the only South African wine to achieve recognition.

Klein estate has been around for more than 3 centuries. Since its inception, and until today, it has been one of celebrities’ and world leaders’ favorite wines. Starting with Frederick the Great and Louis XVI, who were known to be great collectors. It’s also mentioned in the works of Balzac, and Alexandre Dumas. English royalties are avid drinkers of this Vin de Constance, with Queen Elizabeth serving the vintage 2008 Constantia to Xi Jinping, and even today, this wine is loved by Princess Kate Middleton. 

The International Landscape Institute called Klein’s estate “One of the most mythical vineyards in the world.” And with good reason, this place is located in an outstanding terroir, where soils originate from 600-million-year-old granite, and a beautiful refreshing breeze maintains cool temperatures and preserves the fruit during the ripening season. The vineyards are planted with old vines of Muscat de Frontignan, with some of them dating back to 1983. These grapes are capable of producing raisined fruit that delivers the perfect concentration of sweetness and flavor.

This is a wine to admire, a wine to drink with contemplation, and to enjoy from the very first sip to the last. 

Tasting Notes: 100% Muscat de Frontignan. Bright light gold in color. A delicately perfumed yet elevated nose with flavors 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 flavors of oak spice, ginger, and bright fruit. The wine concludes with a long and evolving finish with texture and delicate spice.

Reviews

Extraordinary aromas of white peaches, apricots, vanilla, and flowers. Full-bodied and very sweet with so much sweet and dried fruit, such as apricots and tangerines, it maintains citrusy freshness and texture, with a long, very sweet finish. Always energetic and vivid. Great length to this. Goes on for minutes. It’s a sweet wine to drink when young, to marvel over the intensity and verve, yet also one to age for decades. Drink or hold. ~98 James Suckling. 

A gorgeous wine, texturally brilliant with such intensity while not being overpowering or too much. The overall feeling is so satin-like, smooth, and intense with layers of wild honey, orange blossom, caramel, pear, white peach, and a delicate smokiness. The aromas alone are enough to get you excited about this wine. A density of sweetness settles at the back of the throat reminding you that this is a sweet wine as there’s so much freshness and life to it. Everything is in balance and in its place. Exceptional. Drink now to enjoy the youth or wait for further evolution. ~98 Decanter. 

~97 Tim Atkin. 

While similar in color to 2017, the 2018 Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine possesses a richer, rounder frame than the previous vintage. Devastatingly gorgeous on the nose, the wine exudes ripeness, precision and focus, somersaulting out of the glass with gorgeous aromas of apricot purée, white nectarine and yellow peach with heady floral aromas. Compact, medium to full-bodied and unctuous on the palate, the wine explodes, showcasing the greatness of Muscat. The wine continues to unfold in the mouth, expressing additional layers and complexity it sits on the palate. It's wonderfully textured, and I find myself almost chewing the wine, as there is so much going on with it. Drawing in air over the palate, I continue to slurp the wine and it continues to offer up more of its secrets and complexity. No spitting today. The wine glides to a persistent and world-class finish that has me smitten with this vintage. Do not pass up the opportunity to try this wine. ~96 Robert Parker. 

The 2018 Vin de Constance was picked over 60 days, the second most prolonged picking since the maiden 1986 vintage. It was lightly pressed into 500-liter barrels for alcoholic fermentation, which can take up to six months, then matured on the gross lees in 60% new oak and acacia barrels. This vintage contains 172g/L residual sugar and 6.2g/L total acidity. It presents a vibrant, effervescent bouquet of freshly sliced grapefruit, fresh fig, and citrus fruit, all-penetrating, vivacious and tensile. The palate is beautifully balanced with a fine bead of acidity, impressive weight, and notes of grapefruit and orange zest plus hints of stem ginger. The spiciness is accentuated toward the finish. Another outstanding Vin de Constance, courtesy of winemaker Matt Day.  ~96 Vinous Media. 

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