2015 Vin de Constance: 'one of the greatest ever'
'Even better than the 2014 release - and that was a spectacular sweet wine - the 2015 Vin de Constance is one of the greatest ever vintages of this iconic sticky. More Barsac than Sauternes in terms of weight, it's fresh and refined, a bit like the 2012, with citrus and orange zest balancing the 172 grams of sugar. The oak is perfectly judged, the length and freshness things of wonder. Drink 2019-30. 98 points.' - Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com
History is a wonderful thing but I'm prepared to bet the house that current releases of this fabulous sweetie are streets ahead of what Jane Austen was drinking 207 years ago when she was recommending it in Sense and Sensibility. And in 1811 the ridiculously youthful Matt Day wasn't in charge of Klein Constantia. When he joined a few years ago Vin de Constance had already gained a stellar reputation in the modern era but he was determined to make a few tweaks to improve on near perfection. And what a difference he has made.
Those minor changes include a return to bush vine training for extra sunlight penetration and reducing the amount of barrel maturation, so those French and Hungarian oak and acacia casks are emptied about six months earlier these days. At the moment it's 100% Muscat de Frontignan but there may in the future be a return to adding other varieties as used to be done. Matt also changed the viticulture in 2011 to a much more sustainable farming style that reduced yields. So we've gained intensity and freshness.
We're huge admirers of this wine and have to admit that when warned the new boy Matt was going to be making changes were a tad concerned. However, these little adjustments taken together really have moved the wine into another league while remaining amazing value. A 50cl bottle of this costs much less than a glass of many more famous but less satisfying sweet meditation wines from elsewhere. /CW
Offered subject to remaining unsold; for shipment Autumn 2018
