Of South Africa’s sensational sweet wines, Constance has that X factor

ANOTHER Strauss & Co Fine Wine (and Spirit) Auction done and dusted, another look at the sensational sweet wines of the world, cause to reflect once again on South Africa’s biggest names when it comes to Natural Sweet, Noble Late Harvest, Straw Wine and fortifieds. The thing is, while there are quite a number Classified as top Cape dessert wines and ports, there is currently only one SA brand in production that is as desirable as the great sweets of Europe.

Klein Constantia was restored to its former winemaking glory by Duggie Jooste, who bought the farm in 1980, appointed Ross Gower as cellarmaster and celebrated the first Vin de Constance made from grapes harvested in 1986. The 1987 was the first commercially-released vintage of this ‘recreation’ of Constantia’s Grand Constance that was so popular among the royals, rich and famous in centuries gone by. In 2011, KC was sold by the Joostes to Czech-American Zdenek Bakala and UK-based Charles Harman, who later brought Anwilka founders Bruno Prats and Hubert Boüard of Bordeaux on board as fellow shareholders. Today, the property is respected as one of the top dessert wine producers worldwide – older vintages of Vin de Constance regularly commanding high prices.

Just around the corner from Klein Constantia, Groot Constantia took their time to respond, but in 2005/2006 they released their first version of ‘Constantia Wyn’, vintage 2003, Boela Gerber the cellarmaster – also a natural sweet, also from Muscat de Frontignan, although a 375ml bottle rather than 500ml and magnum à la VDC. The government acquired ownership in 1885, appointing an independent company to run things from 1993. The Groot Constantia Trust had some catching up to do on the dessert wine front, but to their advantage was the right to brand their version Grand Constance, as per the original way back when. The quality and interest value of the wine is high, but can the Groot acquire the X factor as the Klein has done? Is it just a matter of time?!

A 375ml bottle of 1821 Grand Constance recently sold on auction for an astronomical sum. See below for the considerably younger wines of the Cape that fetched over R2000 a bottle/750ml (including VAT and commissions) at the Strauss & Co auction on 11 July 2021, and for the full results of the sale involving both wines and spirits, click here.

 

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance (Natural Sweet)
R28 450 paid for 1×500ml bottle of the 1987 vintage, i.e. R42 675 per 750ml
R3737pb to R21 105pb paid for vintages ranging from 2009 to 1998

KWV Tawny Port 1929
R8208 paid for 1×750ml bottle

KWV Tawny Port 1939
R5628 paid for 1×750ml bottle

KWV Muscadel 1930
R4925 paid for 1×750ml bottle

KWV Limited Release Port 1948
R4456 paid for 1×750ml bottle

KWV Tawny Port 1956
R4104 paid for 1×750ml bottle

Monis Collectors Port 1948
R14 070 paid for 4×750ml bottles, i.e. R3517pb

Mullineux Olerasay No. 2 NV (Straw Wine)
R3752 paid for 3×375ml bottles, i.e. R2501 per 750ml

Niepoort & Sadie Cape Tawny 2008 (Port)
R7035 paid for 6×375ml bottles, i.e. R2345 per 750ml

 

 

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