Residual sugar is 172g/l here. Just gorgeous on the nose, the depth of the bouquet from the bush-vine Muscat, the heavy florals, sumptuous exotic Sandalwood and and lychee and marmalade. Heavenly perfume. Botrytis is deliberately avoided if at all possible, as only late-harvest grapes are desired. The palate has great silky richness, thick texture and nectarine, such lovely freshness and acidity, again that lick of saltiness adding to that clarity.
There are 160g/l of sugar here, and the deeper colour is matched by slightly deeper aromas, still so much florals, a little bit of a leafy herbal character, but the underpinning of stone fruit juiciness is fabulous. The palate has also developed a toffee note of creaminess, trading that against the 2015's vibrancy, but it makes for a hugely overwhelming sensory experience, flavour, texture, the aroma each time you lift the glass to our nose. Fabulous.
(2019) Like the Vin de Constance from neighbouring Klein Constantia this is made from Muscat de Frontignan. It's a rather different wine though, a much deeper colour than the Vin de Constance, and a lovely but more one dimensional nose perhaps, with flowers and a slightly more figgy ripeness. Lovely palate, super-sweet, 180g/l of residual sugar. More full bodied and powerful, more caramel and toffee, and spice, tobacco and marmalade, but not quite the complexity. Price for a half bottle.
(2016) A barrel sample. Again following a modern, more aromatic and Muscat style, not so much raisined character, a more pure fruit aroma, all the florals again and even a hint of geranium leaf lift. Full of delicious, cool fruit and a warming, fudge like hint of depth and sweetness. Seems very fine indeed and promises great things.
(2016) Another highly aromatic Constance from the vintage when Klein Constantia announced a style change, trying to introduce a little more freshness into the wine, hence a slightly lower alcohol and slightly lower residual sugar (152g/l). Lots of flowers and exotic incense lift, also lovely orange fruit and a palate layered with toffee and cream, the acidity nicely balanced and with plenty of zest.
(2016) Very high, perfumed, more Muscat character coming through but also a touch of plump juicy sultana. The palate has a striking citrus and mineral acidity that is quite pithy and dry against cappuccino and sweet fruit. Lots going on, a punchy example. 160g/l residual sugar.
(2016) Lovely nose here, the Botrytis touch again I think giving complex rotted orange nuances, lots of honey and nuts. The palate has lovely rich fruit sweetness and a luscious texture. Quite long with a toasty, burnished finish and good balance and length, a very luscious and complete Vin de Constance. 177g/l of residual sugar.
(2016) A real change of style in this vintage, with barely more than 12% alchol compared to the 14%+ of previous vintages. Toasty, nutty, spices and exotic fruits, then that bright orangey tone into marmalade grip. The palate has interesting herb and toast tones to the sweetness, but not the length nor clarity of the 2004. 168g/l residual sugar.
(2016) A nice caramel and Botrytis-like barley sugar and lightly earthy note. Quite different on the palate to the previous wines. Lots of fruit purity, a coffee ground depth of oak, though I find the acidity a little more angular. Long and tantalising, but not quite the harmony of the best here. 135g/l of residual sugar.
