2022 Vin de Constance: One of the world’s great sweet wines

'Just such a consistently great wine'

It's one of the world great sweet wines. Muscat de Frontignan vines were first planted on the foothills of South Africa's Constantiaberg mountain in the 17th century, facing False Bay. The combination of sun, ocean breezes, decomposed granite soils and this noble Muscat variety led to an exquisite sweet wine. For a time, Vin de Constance was esteemed above Sauternes and Tokaji Eszencia. It was famously enjoyed by Napoleon and Jane Austen. But in 1872, it disappeared, a victim of vine infestation - and that, you might assume, was that.

But in the 1980s, vines were replanted here, and one of the world's great sweet wines made a comeback. Matt Day has been winemaker here since 2011, and his tenure has been marked by impressive consistency.

2022 saw a superb vintage across the Cape, with warm, dry conditions that encouraged even ripening. Unlike Sauternes, Vin de Constance does not depend on the action of noble rot, but the slowly drying effects of sun and wind to raisin the grapes. The immensely complex harvest saw no less than 18 passes through the vineyard to bring in grapes at varying levels of ripeness, which in turn built complexity into the wine. The wine was raised in new barrels, and then in old foudres (larger format barrels). It's a close-to-unique process that results in a remarkably complex, delicious and drinkable sweet wine. /NT

Offered subject to remaining unsold. Expected delivery May 2026. To place an order, click on the wines below or call 020 7638 5998

2022 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance
6x50cl, £288 case ib

'Power and precision in the flavours, a touch of tar, rosebuds, pink grapefruit, preserved citrus, star anise, just a ton of flavour and character and grip, it stretches out through the palate, peach pit, with energy and power. Just such a consistently great wine. Matthew Day winemaker, 90ha estate, 18 months in 50% new 500L Hungarian and French oak barrels, followed by 16 months in large oak casks, 168g/h residual sugar.'

97 points, Jane Anson, janeanson.com, July 2025

2022 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance
1x150cl, £159 case in bond