2012 - Vin De Constance, Klein Constantia, Constantia

The 2012 Vin de Constance was winemaker Matt Day's maiden vintage. Now at 13 years old, it has a burnished amber hue. There are still those tangerines and mandarins on the nose, now with touches of stewed fig. Fine delineation. The palate is very well balanced with a viscous entry, intense pure honeyed fruit effortlessly countered by the acidity and there is wonderful harmony on the finish. Outstanding.

Starting with a kiss of volatility, the 2012 Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine has a medium gold core and notes of apricot marmalade. Displaying impressive weight with notions of dried orange peel, the palate shows a medium to full-bodied dessert wine with impressive texture and succulent mouthfeel that's incredibly pleasing and graceful. With a balanced structure and sweet-fruited core, the Vin de Constance is approachable now and will drink well for the next 10+ years. I'd like to see a touch more acidity to push my score higher and drink dates even further into the future.