Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

2004:
‘Lime and lemon cordial; floral, golden syrup. Acidity is bright and refreshing, and cuts the viscosity with razor-sharp precision. Treacle and caramelised fruits on the palate. There is a metallic tingle on the finish. Good, but not as finely balanced as other vintages by comparison.’ - Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16.5/20 (Feb 2009)

‘Bright gold. Exotic, high-toned aromas of mango, apricot and pungent flowers, all lifted by spearmint and wild herbs. Densely packed but light on its feet, with highly complex flavors of white plum, peach and herbes de Provence Does not come off as fat owing to its energy and sappiness. A fascinating wine with a very long and subtle aftertaste. Made from shriveled but not botrytized grapes. Very expressive today but this should go on in bottle for many years.’ - Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, 92/100 (Mar 2009)

‘Superfocused, with racy, mouthwatering acidity, this has extra layers of delicious tangerine, peach cobbler, orange peel, green tea and quince that course through the very lengthy finish. Drink now through 2025’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 94/100 (Jun 2010)

2005:
‘Burnt caramel, marmalade, oranges, knife-edge acidity, lots of sticky sugar on the finish – but not at all cloying, Great length, complex, generous and broad.’ – Richard Hemming MW, Jancis Robinson.com, 17.5/20 (Sep 2010)

‘A lovely dessert wine, perhaps the pinnacle in South Africa. Concentrated and quite intense with full-bodied flavors of orange rind, clementine and dried apricot fruit spiced with notes of crushed yellow florals, roasted nut skin, toasted egg bread and pure honeycomb. Balanced acidity prevents the mouth from being too thick or viscous, while the endless finish carries decadent notes of candied ginger.’ - Lauren Buzzeo, Wine Enthusiast, 94/100 (Nov 2011)

‘Pure orange peel, tangerine, persimmon and clementine flavors are laced with hints of green tea, candied lime peel and honeysuckle. Rich, but racy and mouthwatering. The gorgeous amber color and a caressing mouthfeel just add to the pleasure. Lovely precision. Should age nicely. Drink now through 2023.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 94/100 (Jul 2010)

‘Iconic dessert from unbotrytised muscat de F. No 03; 04 charming peach & spicy-nutty cream. Less intense than some yrs, but still luscious & dense. 130 g/l RS, 14.2% alc in full, rich finish. 05 sleeker; gleaming acidity in different, finer balance (160 g/l RS; 12.2% alc). Lovely floral depth, precise long-lingering finish. These reward 5-10+ yrs in cellar with more complexity. ± 3 yrs in combo steel, oak.’ - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2009, 4.5*

2006:
‘Muscat de Frontignan. Intense orange and reduced apricot coulis. Caramelised, rich, sweet and generous. Fresh, just. Caramelised aftertaste.’ - Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Oct 2012)

‘This is gorgeous from the start, proffering sweet but precise tangerine, nectarine and clementine fruit flavors laced with date, orange blossom and green tea notes. Long and pure through the finish, with a lingering echo of bitter orange. The track record for this wine keeps getting better. Drink now through 2020.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 95/100 (Feb 2012)

‘Confident, pure, iconic dessert from unbotrytised muscat de F - preview 06 billows the variety. Lighter (13.5% alc) than pvs but more sugar (180g/l), excellent freshness. Creamy, lime, melon melange. Wants few yrs for full complexity. Complex vinification: tank-ferm/2 yrs, then 2 yrs 500L oak.’ - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2010, 4.5*

‘Butterscotch, honeyed almonds and candied ginger-orange peel lead the way on the nose of this late harvest Muscat. Rich, overripe mango and honeydew add levity to the palate, lifting the heady spice and viscous, syrupy flavors. The long finish carries a tinge of pithiness, adding some tongue-smacking texture to the close. Has aging potential, though it's certainly also enjoyable now.’ - Lauren Buzzeo, Wine Enthusiast, 93/100 (Nov 2011)

2007:
‘A well-balanced, powerful dessert wine, this opens with an intense bouquet of fresh peach, orange blossom, jasmine, gardenia and honeysuckle. The mouthfilling, sweet palate is loaded with flavors of ripe stone fruit, mango, melon and orange marmelade, but is kept bright by refreshing acidity on the close. Secondary notes of ginger and white tea linger long on the evolving finish. A wine of class and strength, this is delicious now, but should also easily age through 2020.’ - Lauren Buzzeo, Wine Enthusiast, 95/100 (Jul 2014)

‘100% Muscat de Frontignan. Winemaker: Adam Mason/Matthew Day, age 27. Lovely golden apricot colour. Spicy reduced apricots and grapey too. Fabulously rich and intense and long. Complex already but will clearly become more so.’ - Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 18/20 (Mar 2013)

‘It has an explosive bouquet that sprints out of the blocks with a more effervescent, vivacious personality than the 2008. Citrus lemon, Seville orange marmalade, touches of mandarin and a dash of spice all vie for attention. The aromatics are more Sauternes-like than the 2008. The palate is very well-balanced with a viscous opening, a keen thread of acidity and a bewitching sense of poise and focus. This is probably the finest Vin de Constance to date as it fans out marvellously on the multi-layered finish. This is a startling, world-class wine that gives Yquem a run for its money.’ - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 97/100 (Oct 2013)

‘Gorgeous, featuring a core of creamed peach, persimmon, maple and nectarine notes inlaid with flashes of green tea, dried papaya and mango. Lush and refined, with accents of blood orange and mouthwatering spice echoing on the finish. Muscat de Frontignan. Drink now through 2020.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 95/100 (Jun 2013)

2008:
‘Deep amber. Tea, dried apricot and raisin, with clove, orange rind and dusty mineral notes. Fresh and bright, with acidity ahead of sweetness, carrying dried orange peel, tea and caramel. Long, long finish. At its peak.’ - Tim Jackson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Dec 2019)

‘With a residual sugar of “only” 150 grams, this is on the drier side of recent Vin de Constance releases. It also has a little less volatility than some. Caramel, quince, cinnamon spice, subtle oak, orange peel and acacia honey are thrillingly entwined on the palate here. Drink: 2014-25’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2014, 96/100

‘To me the 2008 is more toward the older style of Vin de Constance.” It already offers a very complex bouquet with fresh pineapple, quince, Japanese yuzu, just a hint of grass clippings and then later mille fieulle. It is obviously tightly wound at the moment, but extremely well focused. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine viscous entry that immediately comes across as very elegant and refined. It feel smooth and pure – gentle in the mouth, caressing the senses with its quince and marmalade tinged finish with a suggestions of shaved ginger on the aftertaste. Returning after 40 minutes, the finish has mellowed and attained a beguiling effervescent quality, almost like an unctuous Lucozade! Wonderful.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Oct 2013)

‘Gorgeous apricot, warmed peach, dried mango and maple notes lead the way in this unctuous dessert wine, with crystalized ginger, green tea and dried blood orange flavors filling in through the finish. Has enough well-embedded acidity to carry it all easily, finishing with impressive range and cut. Drink now through 2030.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 94/100 (Aug 2014)

‘Iconic dessert from unbotrytised muscat de Frontignan. Rich & satisfying 2008 offers fragrant aromas of candied orange peel, faint scent of fynbos. Warm alcohol asserts on entry, then unctuous flavours of toffee apples & glazed pineapples. 54 months 60% new oak, French & Hungarian.’ - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2015, 4.5*

2009:
‘Rich and unctuous, yet superbly racy, this offers a gorgeous panoply of dried apricot, fig, mango and quince flavors, underscored by a lively blood orange note and backed by a long, ginger- and green tea–filled finish. Youthfully tight, this should cruise for some time in the cellar. Muscat de Frontignan. Best from 2016 through 2030.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 95/100 (Nov 2015) (No.10 of top 100 in 2015)

‘It has an intense marmalade, dried apricot, beeswax and honeycomb scents, your quintessential Vin de Constance nose, and it seems to muster more vigor with aeration. The palate is well-balanced with a spicy tincture on the entry, slightly oxidative, with nutty notes infusing the thickly layered honeyed fruit with touches of papaya and mango toward the finish with touches of rosewater and gripe water (a children's medicine for anyone without the privilege) on the aftertaste. Another superb Vin de Constance from Matthew Day.’ - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 94/100 (Oct 2014)