Muscat
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager
Klein Constantia’s Vin de Constance is perhaps the best New World sweet wine money can buy. The 2011 is the latest in a line of excellent vintages and there is an air of confidence in the unhurried laid back nature of the wine on show here. Deep amber in appearance, there are subtle nuances of soft orchard fruits drifting upwards from the glass with a hint of an orangey citrus tang. It doesn’t impress with power but lulls you into submission with its broad, mouth coating feel, impressions of brandy snaps, citrus and cream and that tang that is hinted at on the nose. This is a graceful wine that whilst delicious and alluring now, will no doubt reveal further nuances with a few years age.
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager
Simon Herriot, Private Account Manager
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 1cs
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 1cs
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 2cs
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 1cs
The 2007 vintage was one of the best of the decade, with a long, cool season ensuring concentrated flavours and aromatic intensity. A warm, dry late summer created perfect conditions for the raisining of the Muscat de Frontignan grapes whilst still on the vine.
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 2cs
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 1cs
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 1cs
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 1cs
Stuart Rae, Private Account Manager
The Klein Constantia Vin De Constance is a legendary natural sweet wine, widely regarded as one of the world’s finest. During the 18th and 19th centuries Vin de Constance was the most famous wine from the Southern Hemisphere. This seductive and iconic sweet offering, made only 20km from Cape Town, seduced the Kings and Queens of Europe, featured in the novels of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen and continues to impress its loyal followers. In 1980 Klein Constantia was bought by Duggie Jooste who redeveloped the Estate.
Early records were studied and careful selection was made from vines which, in all likelihood, came from the original stock used in Constantia 300 years ago. In 1986 the first vintage of the renaissance was reintroduced to the public and packaged in a similar style 500ml bottle to its forebears. Made from Muscat de Frontignan, the 2009 was aged in a combination of French oak, French Acacia oak and Hungarian oak barrels for 4 years, of which 60% were new barrels. The harvest began in late January and was completed only in late April.
The extended picking period allowed the estate to harvest up to 25 different batches that make up the many components in the final blend. Each bunch is hand selected and only the ripest and best bunches are chosen. There is no racking or movement of the wine during the 4 years of ageing until the final
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 1cs
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 1cs
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 2cs
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 1cs
Bright and vibrant lemon gold appearance with a beautifully intense nose of lemon and orange rind interlaced with sweet spice and a touch of vanilla. The palate is silky yet refreshing, bursting with dried apricots and honey, luscious yet perfectly balanced with crisp acidity. A very long and lingering, concentrated spicy finish. A delicious wine exemplifying the complex beauty of world class Muscat de Frontignan.
Stephanie Barlow - Private Account Manager
H/Litre 6 x 50cl 1cs
Tim Atkin - Decanter.com
Muscat refers to a family of grapes of which there are around 200 different branches. Muscat Blancs à Petits Grains is the most noble of the variety and makes the best and most distinctive wines. It is the only wine grape that produces wines that actually taste of grapes, and can produce a range of wines from pale, bone dry whites, through to golden yellow, rich, sweet wines.
In Alsace, two types of Muscat are grown - Muscat Blancs à Petits Grains and Muscat Ottonel. They are usually blended to produce wines that tend to be light and dry with a fruity, musky character and an intensely aromatic bouquet. Intensely sweet late harvest wines are also produced.
Muscat de Beaumes de Venise is one of the best Vin Doux Naturels in France. This is produced by adding grape spirit to the partly fermented must - the best producers, such as Domaine de Durban, produce deliciously sweet wines with rich grapey aromas balanced by fruity acidity.
In Australia Muscat à Petit Grains is used to produce the fortified Liqueur Muscats of Victoria (esp. Rutherglen). These are extraordinary wines - dark and treacly with a sensational perfume of orange, raisins and honey.