Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2016 (1.5L)

98 TA / 97 VM / 97 DE / 96 JS / 94 WA / 18.5 JR

Best sweet wine of the year. Increasingly celebrated as one of the great sweet wines of the world, not just the Cape, Vin de Constance is a delight to taste and review. Slightly drier than the 2015 release at 165 grams of sugar, it has more in common with the Loire or Tokaji than it does with Sauternes in terms of freshness and structure. Fresh, balanced and floral, with incredible delicacy, racy acidity, fine oak and flavours of pear tart, crystallised lemons and orange zest. - Tim Atkin MW

The 2016 Vin de Constance is matured in 50% French acacia oak, Hungarian oak and regular French oak, and 50% in French foudres. This has more delineation and precision on the nose compared to the previous vintage, offering acacia honey, quince, saffron and touches of elderflower in the background. The palate is very well balanced with fine precision, a killer line of acidity and disarming purity toward a finish that lingers in the mouth. Stunning. Neal Martin - Vinous Media

Strikingly pure, fresh and youthful, this is almost like an 'essence of Muscat'. Hints of elderflower and subtle spices on the nose are complemented by a licquorous palate with zesty citrus peel and honey, balanced by crisp acidity. 2016 was a very early vintage due, in part, to El Nino but the dry, warm season was mitigated in Constantia by prevailing cool sea-breezes, and cool night-time temperatures. This really needs 2-3 years to bring out the complex flavours which will make this a memorable sweet wine for many decades. -  Andy Howard MW, Decanter

Such an amazing nose to this with dried peaches and limes, flowers and hot stones. Full-bodied, very sweet and powerful with a soft, caressing texture and a tangy, bright finish. A wonderful combination of late-harvest fruit and energetic acidity. Drink or hold. - James Suckling

Lucious tones of apricot, dried nectarine, honey and spiced orange syrup with subtle tones of cinnamon all beg for your attention on the nose of the 2016 Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine. The wine is rich and dense on the palate, expanding and unfolding, showing layers of depth and breadth across the mid-palate. It's perfectly sweet with the precision and balance to counter the acidity, so you can continue to drink it throughout the night. The finish is long and thoughtful and continues to evolve on the palate, leaving a viscous layer, flopping back and forth between flavors of honey, orange marmalade and apricot paste. I see blue cheese or crème brûlée as a beautiful pairing for this wine. - Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate

Sweet and fragrant on the nose. Layers of honey, acacia, sultana and earthy spices. The palate is sweet but not remotely cloying, with bright acidity and great intensity of fruit and marmalade. Harmonious and intense, with superb purity and vibrancy. Mellow raisined notes are lifted by floral orange blossom, cinnamon and sweet vanilla spice. Unerring and long on the finish, superb! - Jancis Robinson