Product Description
Varieties
A rich and concentrated blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, this barrel fermented wine combines oak and tropical fruit flavours with a well-integrated minerality. An elegant wine with exceptional balance and length and fantastic ageing potential.
The Harvest
2017 was really a fantastic vintage for the white varieties at Constantia Glen. The flavour of the grapes at the time of picking was concentrated and intense. The harvest was preceded by an incredibly cool summer and this very cool and long ripening allowed for the slow accumulation of sugars, and the grapes retained a phenomenally fresh acidity despite fairly dry conditions in what was considered a severe period of drought throughout the Cape. Our dryland vineyards showed remarkable buffering capacity and the 2017 vintage has delivered extremely elegant and refined white wines with amazing richness, texture and a persistent, mouth-coating acidity. Harvesting of the Sauvignon Blanc commenced on 20 February 2017 and continued for 3 weeks as each different clone and vineyard block achieved optimal ripeness and flavour concentration. The white grape harvest came to a close on 9 March 2017 when the single block of Sémillon, making up 32% of this wine, was picked and processed into the winery.
The Cellar
TECHNICAL DATA
Alcohol: 14.0% Titratable Acidity: 6.5 g/L
Residual sugar: 1.3 g/L VA: 0.52 g/L
pH: 3.25
The grapes used to make this wooded Constantia white wine are specially selected from the best vineyard blocks on the estate. These grapes are handpicked and the juice is fermented in 600 litre demi-muids. With the desire to experiment and improve on our efforts every year, we included a small 5% component of amphora-aged Sémillon. Furthermore, about 40% of the grapes for this wine were whole-bunch pressed. Compared to the norm of pressing freshly destemmed grapes, these portions highlight the more elegant citrus and floral aromas that are evident on the nose and offer additional complexity, structure and freshness. The wine was matured on the lees for 7 months in 600 litre barrels, of which 20% were new and the remainder of the barrels ranging from 2nd to 7th fill. Careful use of neutral French oak as well as 10% Austrian oak, 5% French Acacia and 5% clay-amphora ensures that the wine has depth and texture with only a small influence of oak notable on the nose. The final blend consists of 68% Sauvignon Blanc, which provides the acidity and backbone, with 32% Sémillon contributing waxy weight, richness and body the wine.
