South African & International Fine Wine
Live Auction, 14 September 2019
Session One
About this Item
Described as one of the world’s most beautiful vineyards, the 146 hectares of Klein Constantia originally formed part of "Constantia", a vast property established in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, the first governor of the Cape. This particular valley was chosen not only for its beauty, but also for the decomposed granite soils on its slopes, gently cooled by ocean breezes. The property behind the iconic Vin de Constance has pedigree and provenance that stretches widely beyond sweet wine.
Renowned for decades of aging potential, the 1998 is a superb vintage with US Wine Spectator awarding it 93 points, one of the highest international scores for any SA wine at the time.
Provenance
Wine Cellar
Critics Ratings
‘This dessert wine is loaded from the get-go, with mango, blood orange, smoke, persimmon, ginger, date and fig flavors, all on a burnished texture supported by well-imbedded acidity. Superlong finish. Gorgeous. Late harvest Muscat de Frontignan. Drink now through 2010. 1,049 cases made.’ – Wine Spectator 93/100 (2003)
‘RS 160 g/l, pH 3.5, TA 9.5 g/l. Vanilla pod, mixed peel, spiced oranges, cloves, raisins, thick and gloopy but with a whistlingly fresh finish from the acidity that keeps magnificent balance. The orange character is really pure on the palate, like tangerine slices – tangy and freshly-peeled.’ – Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com 17.5/20 (2009)
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