2019 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 500ml

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.

2019 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. 

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.

Butterscotch, lemon patisserie and peach aromas. Pristine quality to the texture, lively and thrilling, this is a serious, opulent and powerful wine, more on the spiced, nuanced side with aspects of dried herbs, wood scents and bitter lemon and orange with a touch of honeyed lychee. It feels supremely complex and characterful. Sophisticated, layered and balanced with some minerality, a slight graphite edge all of which adds to the whole. It's still extremely youthful but there is real sculpting here, a sense of precision, style and freshness. Well crafted with an extremely long life ahead. A wonder, and one of the best from the estate! ~98 Decanter

Bright, medium to deep gold hue, showing focused and pure aromas of honeysuckle, fresh vanilla, lemon tart, dried mango, ginger and a hint of saffron. Certainly quite sweet, but not unctuous, with the natural, effortless acidity managing to balance the lushness. Intense, yet scented and naturally expressive. Persistent finish. You crave for a second glass if you drink it now, but you can also hold it for a decade in your cellar. ~97 James Suckling

The 2019 Vin de Constance is matured for 18 months in 500-liter Hungarian and French oak barrels, 50% new, followed by another 18 months in oak foudres. The growing season saw more sunlight hours than previous vintages (2,998 compared to 2,588 in 2018 for example). It has an understated nose, almost Sauternes-like even if it does not contain an ounce of botrytis. Subtle nutty aromas percolate through the wild honey and quince scents, wax resin and lanolin. The palate is medium-bodied and very pure. Disarmingly fine acidity, it is slightly Germanic towards the finish. with a hint of lemongrass lingering on the aftertaste. This is a superb Vin de Constance under the tenure of Matt Day that is a step closer to what you might confusingly call a non-sweet dessert wine.~97 Vinous Media

Floral, focused and sweet, the 2019 Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine bursts out of the glass with layers of picturesque sweet citrus and stone fruit purée. The palate possesses a brilliant balance between succulent, sweet fruit flavors and layers of complexity that sway with focus and finesse, power and prestige. Gobs of sweet citrus and white peach are on display with attractive, healthy fruit, showing an impeccable balance between residual sugar and energetic acidity. This beauty will last for decades and has me dreaming of aged soft blue cheeses. ~96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

This version is the debut version of the new label, in which the name Klein Constantia leaves the front label, leaving only Vin de Constance. One of the most famous and revered sweet wines in the world, its first records date back to 1652, when the first vines were planted.From that time on, it was appreciated by personalities from all over the world, including Napoleon Bonaparte, who ended up taking this wine to another level and immortalizing it. Its production was interrupted in the middle of the 19th century and was only resumed in the 1986 harvest, which was launched in 1990. Sweet white made exclusively from Muscat de Frontignan grapes. In 2019, due to weather conditions, ripening was slower than normal and extended the harvest period. 26 different harvests were carried out, seeking from the highest acidity to the level of raisin grapes. Each harvest was vinified separately and then blended during the last part of fermentation to balance sugar, alcohol and acidity. After that, the wine ages for around 18 months in 500-liter oak barrels, 50% of which are new, and then another 18 months in fourdres, until it is bottled. A more refined and less unctuous edition (when compared to 2018, for example), but with electric acidity and a firm texture, involving its white, citrus and ripe stone fruits, giving fluidity to the whole and balance to its sweetness. Crisp and precise, it has a persistent and full finish, with floral touches, lemon, orange, peaches, dried fruits, sweet spices and umami. Alcohol 14% . ~96 Revista Adega

Made from Muscat de Frontignan, Vin de Constance is a recreation of an iconic wine from the 1700s, said to be a favourite of Napoleon. The winemaking team used historical information to produce as close a copy as possible - even down to the bottle. From a year that produced small, concentrated berries, no fewer than 26 passes through the vineyard were made to select grapes ranging from high acidity, to raisined berries. Each pass was vinified separately and aged for 18 months in 50% new oak barrels, then a further 18 months in large format foudres . It's a fully sweet and luscious wine with 166g/l of residual sugar. It has all the gossamer-light aromatics of Muscat, floral and gently herbal, but opulence too, the fruit running from mango to pineapple. In the mouth a swathe of orange acidity cuts through the luscious flavours, buttery and rich enough, but always feather light. Price for 50cl. There are a lot stockists with prices ranging from £59 to £75, so use the wine-searcher link. Watch the video for more information. Also recommended: the Disznókö Late Harvest Tokaji 2020 . Cheapest price I can see currently is Master of Malt at £16.95, but use wine-searcher to find a lot more stockists. ~95 Tom Cannavan

Intriguing and decidedly fascinating, it immediately captivates with delicately powerful floral notes. Rose petals blend with shades of gardenia, hawthorn and magnolia. In the background the lime peel describes the secondary scene. Medium-full body, sweet structure of excellent persistence and a linear, well-relaxed but slightly bitter finish. 100% Muscat. Drink now. ~93 WinesCritic.com

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