New vintage showcases elegance of Constantia Glen flagship red

Savour the elegance, restraint and intricate complexity of the much anticipated 2013 vintage of the Constantia Glen FIVE, newly released by the picturesque boutique wine estate, Constantia Glen.

Grown on the upper reaches of the Constantiaberg, this graceful expression of the five classic Bordeaux varieties was shaped by the unique location of the vineyards just below Constantia Nek. The exceptionally cool, yet dry, conditions allowed for the slow accumulation of sugars, ensuring optimal ripeness and grapes bursting with concentrated flavour.

The 2013 vintage, with its core of dense dark fruit flavours, is a meticulous blend of 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 16% Petit Verdot and 6% Malbec, matured for 19 months in 80% new and 20% second-fill French oak barrels.

“Credited to the cool 2013 vintage and thorough attention paid to all the winemaking practices, this wine really shows the elegance we strive to achieve in our Constantia Glen FIVE. This blend is led with equal parts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc which offers great backbone and structure. The wine’s vibrant concentration of complex flavours will continue to develop during bottle ageing under the correct cellaring conditions for another 5 to 10 years,” says Winemaker Justin van Wyk.

Expect to be enticed by complex layers of ripe, dark fruit aromas of plum, blackcurrant and seductive cherries. These are highlighted by warm notes of cedarwood and graphite, before a well-rounded, textural finish clears the palate in preparation for the next sip.

“This is a focussed and elegant blend with fine, silky tannins that impart a fresh minerality to the wine, creating an outstanding mouthfeel,” adds Van Wyk, who recommends the Constantia Glen FIVE 2013 with creamy mushroom risotto with black pepper and sage, or Moroccan lamb tagine with grilled aubergine and fresh coriander.

Breaking the venerable 90 point barrier in Tim Atkin’s 2017 South African Special Report, the 2013 FIVE has already been lauded with 94/100 from the British Master of Wine. On home turf, the 2013 vintage boasts 4½ stars in Platter’s South African Wines.

The Constantia Glen FIVE 2013 is available directly from the estate, as well as fine dining restaurants and boutique wine shops. It sells at a cellar door price of R370 per bottle.

Known for exceptional cool climate Bordeaux-style red and white wines, Constantia Glen’s dryland vineyards are farmed without any irrigation. The tasting room is open from 10h00 till 18h00 from Sunday to Thursday and 10h00 till 20h00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Booking via www.constantiaglen.com is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. 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”.

Issued by: GC COMMUNICATIONS