Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2018 (1.5L)

98 JS / 98 JA / 98 DE / 96 VM / 96 WA / 17.5 JR

#98 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2021

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, yet 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. - James Suckling

The most gorgeous mix of straw, powerful citrus, apricot, fresh juicy white pear and peach, tons of stone fruits and spice, graphite and smoke. As ever this is both subtle and overpowering, managing push and pull and so so good - both lusciously sweet and a breath of fresh air running through your palate. As I say every time I drink Vin de Constance, if every sweet wine tasted like this, there would be no sales crisis in the category. Drink now, or allow the flavours to deepen further over the next decade. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

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 your 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 in balance and in its place. Exceptional. Drink now to enjoy the youth or wait for further evolution. Drinking Window 2021 - 2050 - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

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. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media

100% Muscat de Frontigan. Harvested in 21 batches over 60 days, beginning in early February, with higher-acidity grapes, and finishing 11 April, with grapes with more maturity and flavour. The second most prolonged harvest since the maiden 1986. Slower ripening than normal and smaller berries. Berries and raisins sorted by hand. Cold maceration for up to two weeks. Inoculation with a non-Saccharomyces yeast to initiate fermentation while inhibiting unwanted microorganisms, and therefore off-flavours. Each batch is pressed to 500-litre barrels, for fermentation, lasting six months to a year. Three years’ maturation on gross lees, in 60% new French oak barrels, some acacia barrels, and larger foudres. No racking until the final blend has been reached. TA 6.2 g/l, pH 3.77, RS 172 g/l. 
Pale-mid gold. Very floral nose of acacia and orange blossom, with creamy apricot notes and deftly integrated baking-spice notes from the oak maturation. Sweet, rich palate entry, with apricot and orange, but the floral notes kick in and, with a little bit of pithy chew, a sense of dryness does build. Lovely poise, though a shade behind the 2017 in finesse. Still a rather lovely wine, either way! -Tim Jackson MW, JancisRobinson