Vin de Constance, Klein Constantia 2023

Pre Arrival Offer, Wines due between December 2026 and February 2027 

One of the world’s great sweet wines, and the 2023 Vin de Constance is a beauty – intensely aromatic with apricot, ripe peach, guava and grilled pineapple at its core. The fruit is wonderfully concentrated, moving into dried apricot and citrus, with a luscious texture balanced by a bright line of freshness.

The 2023 vintage brought a higher proportion of botrytis than usual, adding an exotic richness and complexity to the wine. Layers of honey, caramel, tarte tatin and gentle spice emerge alongside notes of lime, fennel and a subtle savoury character. It is undeniably rich and sweet, yet the acidity keeps everything lifted, fresh and remarkably composed.

Made from Muscat, the wine was macerated on skins before fermentation and matured in a combination of new and seasoned oak, followed by further ageing in large oak casks. At 162g/L residual sugar, there is considerable concentration, but sweetness never overwhelms the fruit or freshness.

This is a particularly impressive release of Vin de Constance – generous, complex and beautifully balanced, with the depth to evolve for many years. Jane Anson awarded the 2023 a perfect 100 points, describing a wine of exceptional balance and grace, while James Suckling rated it 99 points and called it one of the estate’s best ever. Delicious now for its exuberant fruit and richness, but very much a wine that can be cellared.