Constantia, South Africa
The day was young, early afternoon, just after lunch. Mother
Nature was not being my friend today. I had planned a boat trip to Duiker Island, known as the seal
island, but the seas were too rough so no boats were going out. I thought that
not all was lost, so I decided to drive along Chapman’s Peak, a world famous road with twists and turns where a lot of
car companies’ film commercials, and it was also closed because of mud and rock
slides. The next destination on my list
was going to be the Constantia Wine Route,
so I thought that not all was lost, I get to start drinking and wine tasting
earlier. Life is good, and it started with Constantia Glen Winery.
In this review, I will focus on four wines from the tasting.
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Wine
Dine and Play’s ratings for wine:
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96 – 100
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Extraordinary
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90 – 95
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Outstanding
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80 – 89
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above average
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70 – 79
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below average
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60 – 69
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poor/appalling/ “Cac”
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Review basics:
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Wine, Dine, & Play’s Rating
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91/100
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Wines Produced
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Red: Bordeaux Blend (aka
Meritage), and a Summation,
White: Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, and a Sémillon
blend
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Grape Blends
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Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet
Franc, and a Summation blending of all 5 Meritage grapes
White: Sauvignon blanc, and Sémillon
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Current Vintage for 2014
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Reds: 2008, 2010, & 2012
Whites: 2012, & 2013
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Region Map
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Constantia Wine Route
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Regulatory
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ABV %
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13.5% - 14.5%
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Barrel Types
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French oak
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Barrel Aging
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16 months on the reds
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South
African wine Quality Standards:
Unlike some European countries, South Africa does not have
any requirements for the process of making wines in a particular region—for
instance, allowing only certain trellising methods or varietals. However, there
are certain quality requirements. For a
wine to be labeled as a particular varietal or as coming from a particular
region, estate, or vineyard, it must also not display any “unacceptable quality
characteristics,” which means the wine may not be turbid, contain excess
sediment or crystals, have faulty/insufficient color, or display undesirable
flavor characteristics. Among the several characteristics listed as
unacceptable, a wine may not be overly tannic, thin or watery, or oxidized. For
a wine to be labeled as coming from a particular area, 100% of the grapes used
to make the wine must have been grown there, and producers may only label their
wines using officially-recognized geographic areas. In addition to designating a particular
geographic unit, region, district, or ward, a producer may also designate the
wine as coming from a particular estate or may label it as a “single vineyard
wine.” However, to do so the producer
must first register the area where the grapes were grown with the Wine and
Spirit Board. Single-vineyard wines must
have been made from a single varietal that is produced in the area registered
with the board, and the area registered may be no larger than 6 hectares. Estate wines must be made entirely—including
bottling—in the registered area where the grapes were grown. Also, if a particular varietal—or “cultivar”
as the law defines it—is listed on the bottle, at least 85% of the grapes used
in making the wine must have been of that type. This same 85% rule applies to designating a
particular vintage year.
Cases Produced:
Per Year:
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Sauvignon Blanc
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Saddle Rose
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500 cases
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Three
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Five
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Price chart:
$ - Under $50.00 USD
$$ - Over $50.00 USD
$$$ - Over $100.00 USD
$$$$ - Over $200.00 USD
$$$$$- Over $400.00 USD
Bottle prices:
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2012 Constantia Glen Sauvignon Blanc (750 ml)
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R100.00
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ZAR
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$9.17
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USD
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£5.49
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GBP
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€6.69
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EUR
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¥56.03
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CNY
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¥¥
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2013 Constantia Saddle Rose (750 ml)
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R60.00
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ZAR
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$5.50
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USD
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£3.29
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GBP
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€4.02
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EUR
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¥33.62
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CNY
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¥
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2010 Constantia Glen Three (750 ml)
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R165.00
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ZAR
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$15.14
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USD
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£9.06
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GBP
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€110.4
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EUR
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¥92.45
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CNY
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¥¥
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2008 Constantia Glen Five (750 ml)
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R245.00
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ZAR
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$22.48
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USD
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£13.45
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GBP
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€16.40
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EUR
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¥137.27
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CNY
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¥¥¥
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-- Prices do not include exporting costs out of host country
or taxes incoming to your country
Visit these sites to
get up to date currency rates:
Or visit:
Cost of wine tasting in USD (p/p):
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Vineyard Tasting
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$4.00
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Scroll down below to the main review to read the tasting notes
From vineyards home page:
Perched high on the upper reaches of the Constantiaberg in
the oldest wine producing region of South Africa lies the magnificent boutique
wine estate, Constantia Glen. Acclaimed for bespoke wines and sweeping
panoramic views, Constantia Glen is one of the gems of the Constantia Valley,
the home of South African wine with a proud history of winemaking dating back
to 1685.Cradled between the slopes of the Constantiaberg overlooking False Bay,
Constantia Glen’s 60 hectares of undulating landscape have been under the
present ownership since the 1960's. In recent times, the farm has undergone
numerous transformations from rolling forest hills to an Angus cattle stud,
before finally accepting the historical inevitability of a return to vineyard
production.
Main review:
Enjoying my drive, I came across Constantia Glen, entering
into the property, and you could not pick a better location overlooking rolling
hilltops leading to Cape Point covered in green grass, and large tree’s, with
the property manicured with flowers and assorted bushes. Once parked, the tasting area was a group of
patio tables overlooking the vines growing down the hill and valley and into a
large cropping of hills to the north.
As an American visiting South Africa, the tastings in both
Constantia and Stellenbosch were an experience within themselves, much
different to the tastings in Napa and Sonoma,
California. Most tastings in California, Washington State, New York, and Oregon
starts at $25.00-$40.00, so when I found out the cost for the tastings in South
Africa I was shocked. The average is $4.00-$6.00, Glen being $4.00 (ZAR40.00).
I had a tasting of six wines as I sat enjoying the nice summer breeze, and
noticed that other tables were also ordering charcuterie plates with their wine
tastings, again a big difference, from the American and French Vineyards I have
visited in the past. I would have ordered it as well, but I had just eaten
lunch, and wanted to save room for dinner eating at La Colombe, in Constantia.
This or these wines remind me
of:
I
am more of a red wine drinker than white, but enjoy a good white when I can get
it, and the Constantia Glen’s
Sauvignon
Blanc is a very nice crisp wine to have on a summer day, but my favorite wine
of the day was the
Constantia
Glen Three, and overall from the vineyard to the quality of wines, I would
compare the experience to Kamen
Bouquet
& Palette:
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Wine & Grape:
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Nose:
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Palette Experience:
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Hugely expressive and uplifting aromas of nettle and
gooseberry, backed up by an intense tropical array of nectarine, guava and
kiwi fruit. There is an underlying perfume of elderflower
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The creamy richness with the citrus and yellow fruit flavors
are beautifully balanced by the crisp acidity and well-defined minerality. A
small portion of Semillon (10%) adds weighty texture and the mouth-coating
richness are accentuated by the maturation of the wine on the lees in
stainless steel tanks for 5 months.
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Think strawberries, salmon hues, floral scents and berry
fruit, this bone dry Constantia Saddle Rosé 2011 made in the classic style of
southern France.
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A complex offering with nuances of blackberries, spice and
dark plum fruit. The background is accentuated with an expressive red berry
perfume. The beautiful dark fruit flavors show the underpinnings of the three
expressive Bordeaux varieties. The nose promises depth and concentration
expected from such a remarkably cool vintage and shows good integration after
decanting.
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The dark fruit flavors follow seamlessly onto a
mouth-filling palate with incredible texture from ripe, velvety tannins. The
wine has a very good structure because of fine-grain tannins and the balance
of the wine is achieved with a refreshing minerality. Full-bodied with a juicy
texture, this wine has a long, soft finish making it very approachable in its
youth, yet has ample structure to age beautifully.
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Full ripe black fruits and spicy aromatics fill the first
impression. Headily scented cigar box nuances are offset by lashings of
blackcurrant and Morello cherries. The nose shows all the underpinnings of
the expressive Bordeaux varieties and invites further exploration.
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The aromas follow through seamlessly onto the palate and
are complemented by polished yet persistent tannins that lend texture and
structure to a wine of immense complexity.
This wine is both elegant and refined and exudes class in all aspects
- culminating in a sophisticated finish that lingers.
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Château or Vineyard Owner:
XXX
Viticulturist:
XXX
Winemaker:
Justin Van Wyk
Tasting room address:
Constantia Main Rd,
Constantia 7806,
South Africa
Cross streets:
Hout Bay Road & Belair Drive
Contact Information:
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Tasting
room:
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+27
21 795 5639
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Fax:
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+27
21 795 6101
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Winery:
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+27
21 795 6100
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Website:
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Email:
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Hours of tastings:
Monday – Friday: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Weekend: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
S. African Standard Time (GMT +2:00)
Review by:
Chef Sean Overpeck (CFE)
Chef Sean cooks for soldiers in Afghanistan, 2012:
“I like cooking with wine;
sometimes I even add it to the food.”
