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Vin de Constance 2023 Klein Constantia

Ratings & tasting notes

99

James Suckling

James Suckling

Concentrated aromas of dried apricots, pineapple, caramel and honey. It’s full-bodied with a dense, intense finish, showing spices, limes, dried fruit and some toffee. Very sweet but balanced and fresh. A triumph for this South African estate. One of the best ever. Drink or hold. 06/2026


100

Jane Anson

Inside Bordeaux

As ever, this is just pure pleasure, and full of grace, apricot puree, intense and concentrated, with the most beautiful balance of citrus, grilled pineapple, truffle, fennel, uplift and joy. Matthew Day winemaker, 90ha estate, 18 months in 50% new 500L Hungarian and French oak barrels, followed by 16 months in large oak casks, 162g/l residual sugar. 06/2026


98

Colin Hay

The Drinks Business

This is made from roughly 10% of botrytised grapes for only the 4th time in its history. There’s a little less residual sugar (but actually the 2022 was only 6 g/litre higher). Effusive and engaging yet elegant and beguiling – and distinctly nuttier than the 2022 from the botrytis. Peach stone, nectarine, white pear flesh, a little fresh and confit ginger, nougat, angelica, confit fruits and figs. I love too the burnt caramel with its lovely bitterness and grip. The fleshy pear notes provide the focus on the palate. A wine of grace and poise and charm despite the considerable concentration and of wondrous very vibrant freshness. Excellent. Pear belle Helene on the finish. Lovely. Very different from the preceding vintage, but just as good. So sapid and saline on the aftertaste. 06/2026

Description

The 2023 Vin de Constance comes from an exceptionally long and cool vintage defined by balance, precision and remarkable aromatic concentration. A warm, dry winter led to early budbreak and strong initial growth, followed by a slow and steady growing season. Cooler summer conditions preserved vibrant acidity, while late-season rainfall required highly precise selection in the vineyard. Despite lower yields and smaller berries, the vintage delivered fruit with excellent concentration, freshness and structural balance.Harvesting took place from February 14 to April 18, extending over almost 25 individual passes through the vineyards. Grapes were selected at different stages of ripeness, from fresh, ripe berries to naturally raisined grapes. This range of ripeness levels forms the foundation of the wine’s layered character. In the cellar, each component was vinified separately. After two weeks of skin contact, the wine underwent a slow fermentation lasting around two months, which stopped naturally to preserve balance and purity. Continuous blending trials were carried out to achieve the distinctive character of the vintage. The wine was then matured for 18 months in 500-litre barrels made from French, Austrian and Hungarian oak, 50% of them new, followed by a further year in 4,200-litre French oak foudres.The 2023 Vin de Constance opens with pronounced lime zest and marmalade, supported by notes of butterscotch and a subtle baked cheesecake character. On the palate, layers of fig preserve, ripe apricot and quince bring depth and definition. A slightly lower sugar level adds balance and clarity, allowing the vibrant acidity to carry the concentrated fruit. Light nutmeg and exotic spices add further complexity, while well-integrated oak contributes subtle vanilla and fine wood spice. The finish is long and persistent, combining sustained freshness with controlled richness. With 162 g/l residual sugar and 14.2% alcohol, the wine has extraordinary ageing potential and is capable of developing for many decades, potentially even generations. Best served at 12–14°C.
Country: South Africa
Region: Coastal Region
Wine type: Sweet wines
Year: 2023
Content: 50 cl
Organic/bio dynamic: No
Quality information: REL 2026