Klein Constantia’s Vin de Constance stands today as one of South Africa’s most compelling fine wine stories, a modern revival of an 18th century legend once favoured by Napoleon and European royalty. Crafted entirely from unfortified Muscat de Frontignan grapes left to naturally raisin on the vine, it channels historical prestige into a contemporary, technically precise expression with vibrant acidity balancing opulent apricot, honey, and citrus-peel sweetness. No longer a curiosity, Vin de Constance now commands serious fine wine attention alongside Sauternes and Tokaji on global wine lists, prized by collectors and sommeliers for its ageability, distinctive terroir, and its role in restoring Constantia’s wider reputation as a world-class sweet wine region.
The 2023 vintage stood out for its unique character of balance and precision, shaped by a cool, slow ripening season and an extended harvest window. A warm, dry winter that led to early budbreak and strong initial growth, was followed by steady canopy development and slightly uneven flowering, naturally regulating the yields. Cooler summer conditions slowed ripening and preserved vibrant acidity, while late season rains added both pressure and opportunity, requiring highly precise vineyard selection. Despite lower yields and smaller berries, the vintage delivered fruit of excellent concentration, freshness and structural balance.
The 2023 harvest was one of the latest and most extended in recent years, with picking carried out from 14th February to 18th April, owing to close to 25 passes through the vineyards. The fruits were selected at different stages of ripeness, from fresh ripe berries to naturally raisined grapes, ensuring a layered and complex final blend.
In the cellar, the grapes underwent two weeks of skin contact before pressing, followed by a slow fermentation over approximately two months, which stopped naturally to preserve balance and purity. Each component was vinified separately with continuous blending trials to unlock the unique DNA of this vintage. The wine was matured for 18 months in 500L barrels (50% new) of French, Austrian and Hungarian oak, followed by a further year in 4,200L French oak foudres. This dual ageing approach enhanced both structure and refinement, allowing the components to integrate while maintaining freshness and vibrancy. Only the finest elements were selected for the final blend, reflecting the vintage’s precision and layered character.
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2023, WO Constantia, 14.2% Abv.
162g/l RS | 5.9g/l TA | 3.7pH
A beautifully deep honied gold colour, this 2023 looks every bit as substantial as it smells, with complex lifted aromatics of orange marmalade and crystallised lemon peel, freshly baked warm apple strudel pastries, cinnamon spice, subtle butterscotch and vanilla pod nuances. The finesse, harmony and elegance on the palate are simply astounding with seamlessly interwoven flavours of cinnamon and nutmeg spice, ripe apricot, dried mango and quinces in syrup coating the mouth. While incredibly concentrated, there is the archetypal Vin de Constance weightless intensity of crystallised yellow orchard fruits, the sweetness perfectly tempered by a well-integrated tangy acidity. Quite simply, this is a benchmark sweet wine style that never puts a foot out of place. Bravo. Drink now to 2045+.
(Wine Safari Score: 97+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)