The
small range of wines from Constantia Glen is named by numbers, except the
Sauvignon Blanc (which could be called One!). The numbers denote the sum of the
parts. Two is a white Bordeaux blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, 3 is a
red Bordeaux blend of 3 varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet
Franc; and Five, another Bordeaux blend with all 5 Bordeaux varietals. They are
classy wines, winning awards and scoring very highly in Platter and with other
wine commentators. And, it must be said, the farm has some of the best views in
the Cape. We were invited to a vertical tasting there, followed by a casual lunch.
We were not disappointed
The tasting room had been commandeered for the
function and customers were accommodated in the restaurant area. We were
grateful as it was a typical spring day, blustery, sunny, chilly, even drizzle
at one point
Sales Manager Gus Allen welcomed us
He told us the wines are evolving. The vineyard
was only established in 2000 by the owners the Waibel family who recognised
it's potential. It is winemaker Justin van Wyk's 9th vintage, with Megan van
der Merwe joining him as Assistant winemaker for the last two vintages. The
farm manager Etienne Southey has been there for four years
We drank the new 2016 Sauvignon Blanc on arrival,
which has not yet been released. This was its first showing to the media. It
was bottled in July. Grassy green with light pyrazines on the nose, it is
crisp, lively, full of gooseberry and lime, with good elegance and needs time
to settle
These were the wines we were to
taste
Justin van Wyk took us through the tasting. The
first planting of vines followed the horrendous December 1999 forest fires which
affected the farm badly, as it swept over the Constantia Nek and took away
everything in its path. The Bishops boarding house boys came to help fight the
fire and Justin was among them, he was then in Grade 8. Now he makes the wines,
having earned his degree in wine. Planting took place in 2000 and 2001 with one
varietal in 2002. Very little Sauvignon Blanc was planted then, but soon they
saw how well it produced in Constantia so, in 2005/6, many vines were re-grafted
with it. It does well in the teeth of the cold South Easter at the height of
the farm. It is a Bordeaux varietal focused farm and only grows those
varietals. 75% of which are red. Because the farm is so high up the mountain,
they get 2 hours more sunlight than the rest of Constantia
We began with 2011 Three. Classic perfume of
violets, cassis and vanilla on the nose, so attractive and enticing. Soft
chalky tannins, warm spicy alcohols, a good fruit driven wine, cassis, plums,
soft but full, this will last for several years. Next the2012 Three. It has a
similar nose, just more integrated. Cherries and berries on the palate, less
Cabernet visible, not as soft and yielding with lots of tannins to hold it
together. A cool year with late picking. 2013 Three has cherries again, with
wood smoke whiffs. Sweet and sour cherries, very chalky tannins and then it
opens up to cherry sweets, nice length, good minerality but needs time. (60%
Merlot)
Assistant winemaker Megan van der Merwe and farm
manager Etienne Southey
Then on to the Five. 2010 is dark
with plum edges, Intense fruit with coffee on the nose. Gorgeous fruit and some
umami on the palate, soft sweet ripe berries and cherries layered with tense
tannins and choc coffee wood and a long end. 2011 Cassis, incense oak and pine
nuts. Velvet chalky tannins, soft berry fruit with length. It keeps opening up
showing more intensity and fruit and lots of elegance. Lynne's top scoring wine
at 18.5. 2012 has jasmine, honey suckle, incense wood and hints of marjoram on
the nose. Warm alcohols, soft chalky tannins cassis, morello cherries, less
wood than 2011 and a little greenness. Still to come
Then
for the white Bordeaux Blend, Two. 2013 has the classic oily mutton fat typical
with semillon, olive richness, perfume of melon and white grapes. A round mouth
of elderflower, honeysuckle, sweet fruit with lime acidity and warm alcohol,
and a long finish. No oak visible. A begging for food wine. 2014 Grapey
Hanepoot nose with some herbs. Its fizzy, spritzy almost Muscat d Alexandria
spicy with good acidity and sweet white grape fruit. 2015 has a tighter nose, with
lees, herbs, sweet fruit and incense hints. It is ethereal, more elegant.
Similar on the palate with the Muscat spicy notes, nice mutton fat feel, but little
Sauvignon Blanc character. Honey botrytis notes too. So popular it is already
sold out! Our favourite too
A view looking in
Lunch was platters: hams, cheese olives and bread,
for which they are famous.
The smoked salmon platter was very popular
as was the biltong and droëwors platter. We shared
them all
All slipped down very easily with the Constantia
Glen wines
The terrace with its superb mountain views. A
great tasting
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