Elegance of Constantia Glen flagship red shaped by cool vintage

Constantia Glen, the picturesque boutique wine estate known for exceptional Bordeaux-style wines, has released the much anticipated 2012 vintage of its flagship red, the Constantia Glen FIVE.

An elegant expression of the five Bordeaux varieties grown on the upper reaches of the Constantiaberg, the wine is shaped by the unique location of the vineyards just below Constantia Nek. The exceptionally cool yet dry conditions allowed for slow ripening, ensuring optimal ripeness and grapes bursting with flavour.

The 2012 vintage, with its powerful structure and vibrant concentration of intricate flavours, is a blend of 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Petit Verdot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot and 10% Malbec. This complex blend is matured for 18 months in 80% new and 20% second-fill French oak barrels and a further 3 years in the bottle prior to release.

“The reason I love the FIVE 2012 is because it shows the coolness of the vintage. The 2012 harvest season at Constantia Glen was one of the coolest, and as a result, the latest we have ever picked grapes from the estate,” explains Winemaker Justin van Wyk.

With its finely structured tannins and incredible concentration, the wine shows good depth and a refreshing acidity that is beautifully balanced by its powerful weight and texture. A bouquet of rich blackcurrant and red berries, with hints of fynbos and wild rosemary unfolds in additional savoury notes of white pepper, spice and tomato leaf, all strung together with the ripe, dark fruit flavours in an indulgent lace of well-integrated vanillary oak.

“The coolness of the vintage is shown in the restrained elegance of the wine with a perfumed floral note on the nose and freshness coupled with fine-grain tannins on the palate,” adds Van Wyk, who recommends the Constantia Glen FIVE 2012 with slow roasted, pulled pork tortillas with chipotle chillies, lime zest, fresh coriander and coleslaw or roasted rack of lamb with tomato and rosemary jus, served on a bed of Mediterranean couscous.

The Constantia Glen FIVE 2012 is available directly from the estate, as well as fine dining restaurants and boutique wine shops. It sells at a cellar door price of R350 per bottle.

Known for exceptional cool climate Bordeaux-style red and white wines, Constantia Glen is open from Sunday to Thursday from 10h00 until 17h00 and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10h00 until 20h00. Look out for the Constantia Glen signs towards the top of Constantia Main Road. Call 021-7955639, e-mail reservations@constantiaglen.com, visit www.constantiaglen.com, www.facebook.com/ConstantiaGlen or follow @ConstantiaGlen on Twitter and Instagram. The GPS co-ordinates are S 34º 0’39.6” E 18º 24’30.6”.