2020 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance

The 2020 Vin de Constance, the usual Muscat de Frontignan, is matured 50% in Hungarian and French oak barrels for 18 months and then 18 months in foudres . There is 172g/L residual sugar this vintage, which is a little higher than usual. It has a pure bouquet with scents of wild honey, white peaches, nectarine, pressed white flowers and yuzu. Wonderful delineation, but you get the sense that it is holding itself back. The medium-bodied palate has a gorgeous, mellifluous texture coating the mouth without excessively imposing itself, thanks to the countervailing acidity. There’s pineapple, peach skin, aniseed, lime and stem ginger, the latter more pronounced than previous recent vintages and lending spiciness towards the finish as it fans out. Lingering candied orange peel on the aftertaste with the gingerbread theme continuing.

100% Muscat de Frontignan. ‘An ideal build up to harvest created exceptional conditions  for the raisining of the Muscat fruit. The result was a very compressed harvest that started in early March and was completed within 3 weeks, unlike typical harvests where it can take up to 2 months.’ Fermentation stopped naturally. The wine was aged for 1.5 years in 50% new 500-litre Hungarian and French oak barrels, followed by a further 1.5 years in a large-format wooden foudre. The final blend is a cask selection. TA 6.3 g/l, pH 3.92, RS 172 g/l. Pale gold in colour with a sweet, grapey, floral nose. The palate is silky, pristine and sweet. Crystallised ginger, honeysuckle and maple come through. A generous but perfectly balanced vintage. Long, and very youthful. Should age well. (TP)

Rich rose gold in colour, just so much interest and depth on the aromatics. I always look forward to tasting this wine, and it never seems to disappoint. Dried apricot, caramel, patisserie, peach pit, sage, cardamon, sweet fleshy nectarine. This was a balanced vintage that was warm but not with the drought conditions of 2019, but it has plenty of sun-sweetened character, with lime zest twisting through the raising the tension and energy. Tasted twice. Matthew Day winemaker.