Muscat Vin de Constance 2016
Klein Constantia
Summary: Whilst still technically in a drought, we had a text book growing season with a slightly higher rainfall than previous years. It was characterised again by cold nights, warm days, wind and very little rainfall. This further aided the berry development and due to the dry conditions leading up to harvest, we had exceptionally healthy fruit.
Vinfication: The approach used to create Vin de Constance is unique to Klein Constantia, tailored from historic information used to make the iconic sweet wines of Constantia in the 1700’s. From these records we have recreated a style of Muscat de Frontignan involving numerous winemaking techniques in order to create the perfect sweet wine. One of the most important aspects is to achieve balance, to do this we harvested the grapes in numerous batches over a 2 month period. Each batch has a precise purpose and is meticulously blended together on numerous occasions to achieve a perfect balance between sugar, alcohol and acidity. After an extended fermentation period, the wine was aged for 3 years in a combination of 50% new oak and acacia barrels, as well as large format foudres before further blending and bottling.
Additional Information
The 2016 vintage was earlier than anticipated due to El Niño causing a warm and dry weather build up to harvest, resulting in faster ripening fruit. Still it yielded berries with concentrated flavors and well balanced acidity. Fortunately, in the Constantia Valley we receive enough rainfall, even during the driest of seasons and are safeguarded with sufficient moisture in the soils, unlike some warmer regions in the country. We are also protected from the extreme heat spikes by our proximity to the ocean, experiencing predominantly cool night time temperatures allowing for the perfect and slow raisining conditions for the development of ripeness while retaining a good natural acidity.
Pure gold in color. The nose presents an enticing encounter, followed by precise yet delicate aromas of white flowers, ripe citrus and touch of rosewater and almonds. The palate is in perfect harmony with a luscious mouthfeel. Flavors of creamy stone fruit, litchi, citrus zest and a lively spice abound creating an ideal balance. It concludes with a vibrant yet complex long finish.
Technical Details
- Appellation: Constantia, Western Cape
- Winemaker: Matthew Day
- Sustainability: Sustainable Practices, Organic Practices
- Alcohol: 14.0%
- Ttl Acidity: 6.6 g/l
- Residual Sugar: 165 g/l
- Sizes Available: 500ml, 1.5L
- Pack Size: 6/500ml, 3/1.5L
- Varietals: 100% Muscat de Frontignan
