Constantia Glen Three 2008

Constantia Glen, a magnificent wine estate perched high on the upper reaches of the Constantiaberg, are known for their superb cool climate wines including their Sauvignon Blanc and Bordeaux styled reds which are all awarded 4 ½ stars year on year in the John Platter South African Wine guide.

Shaped by the vineyards’ individual location just below Constantia Nek, the close proximity to False Bay, varying site specific vineyard blocks, soil types and clones give Constantia Glen wines their unique character. Choosing not to rush the art of winemaking, the winemaking team under Justin Van Wyk, leans on time-honoured techniques and technical precision to gently coax the aromas from the grapes, resulting in wines of great complexity and uncompromising quality, with great ageing potential.

The two blends produced, are the Constantia Glen Three and Constantia Glen Five. They have been named as to the number of Bordeaux varieties that make up the blend.

The new 2008 Constantia Glen Three, previously named The Saddle, is a blend dominated by Merlot (57%) with Cabernet Sauvignon (28%) and Cabernet Franc (15%). Matured in 70% new French oak for 16 months, this wine owes its lushness and subtleness of tannins to the winemakers strategy of using only free run wine in the blend.

“A fresh, modern interpretation of a classic Medoc,” is how the winemaker describes this full bodied complex wine which shows off its three expressive Bordeaux varieties with scents of heady tobacco and plummy, blackberry fruit. It has excellent expression of fruit on the palate offering intense sweetish black fruit tweaked by the lovely freshness of red cherry. The balance between richness and freshness is exceptional with long lingering fruit flavours and just a hint of spice from the oak in the background

The wine is drinking well now and impress’s despite its youth but if you have the patience the wine will gain complexity over the next four to eight years. I personally prefer to drink a wine of this quality with food and so we enjoyed a few glasses over a meal of rosemary grilled lamb chops prepared on my trusted Weber!

Expect to pay R158.00 @ Wine Concepts