The latest release of Vin de Constance is set to go down as their best ever. With the young, affable Matt Day at the helm since 2012, quality at this historic estate has steadily improved, thanks to a revamp of the winery itself and tweaks in the winemaking process that have brought clarity and definition to the wines. In Matt’s words, “my aim is to make steady incremental improvements. I want us to compete with the best of the best.” Well, we think he’s achieved that with the 2015, and the critics have jumped on board too.
Steven Spurrier, at a recent launch in London, declared it “every bit as impressive as 2016 Chateau d’Yquem”, while Tim Atkin MW has doled out a record 98-point score and made it his overall Sweet Wine of the Year, citing “the length and freshness things of wonder”.
Read MoreIndeed, the 2015 arrives in a series of outstanding wines that we’ve now come to expect from Matt Day and his team, the result of a frankly unbelievably meticulous fruit selection that sees the harvest last three months, before three years of ageing in top quality fuders and 500L barrels. Unlike many other noble sweet wines Vin de Constance is always 100% Muscat de Frontignan, left to raisin naturally on the vine to give concentration and flavour, with no noble rot influence.
The 2015 is a wine with richness and intensity, but it holds itself with a straight back; being fresh and vibrant, spicy and exotic, with notes of stone fruit, guava, red flowers, honey and fresh figs. Complex, seductive and yet somehow delicate. It is delicious already but history informs us that it will also age seamlessly for decades. Followers of Klein Constantia have never had it so good. This is a legend reborn, and at just £35 per bottle in bond, don’t hang around. It is an absolute steal.