Modern, Post-War and Contemporary Art and South African Fine Wine
Live Virtual Auction, 26 - 28 July 2020
Wine
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
Described as one of the world’s most beautiful vineyards, the 146 hectares of Klein Constantia originally formed part of "Constantia", a vast property established in 1685 by Simon van der Stel, the first governor of the Cape. This particular valley was chosen not only for its beauty, but also for the decomposed granite soils on its slopes, gently cooled by ocean breezes. The property behind the iconic Vin de Constance has pedigree and provenance that stretches widely beyond sweet wine.
The re-creation of the legendary Constantia wine made in the 18th and 19th centuries, sought after by Napoleon, the aristocracy of Europe, King George IV and King Louis Philippe and praised by Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Baudelaire! Renowned for decades of aging potential, this 1991 was a firm favourite, even sampled by the world’s most famous near-teetotaller Nelson Mandela.
Critics Ratings
‘One of the Cape’s few cult wines - justified as much as inherent individuality as its icon status with the British - UK visitors to the Cape can be identified by the number of cases of Constance in their luggage. “ – Platter's SA Wine Guide 1996, 5*
‘Part of a wine legitimately taking on icon status is that it should impress most times it is drunk and the Vin de Constance 1991 from Klein Constantia didn’t disappoint yesterday. Deep brown in colour, it nevertheless had fantastic aromatics and flavour – dried flowers, mint humbug, caramel, mushroom, a certain loaminess. Intricate and wonderfully balanced – nothing obvious or aggressive about it. A special treat.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za 95/100 (2014)
Provenance
Private Client
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