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Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Constantia Glen welcomes new wooded Bordeaux-style white wine to its collection




Constantia Glen TWO 2011

Taste pure elegance this summer with the all new Constantia Glen Two 2011, a beautifully balanced blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon from this magnificently appointed boutique estate known for cool climate Bordeaux-style wines.

The new Constantia Glen Two 2011, composed of 60% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Sémillon, has a vibrant intensity and remarkable fruit concentration with uplifting aromas of grapefruit and elderberry that integrate beautifully with the slight hints of oak imparted during barrel fermentation. The individual wine components were fermented and matured on the lees for 6 months in new, 2nd and 3rd fill oak barrels before blending and lightly filtered prior to bottling.

“This is the first year that we have produced a wooded Bordeaux-style white wine. We have been experimenting with fermentations in large 600 litre barrels since 2008 and  after much deliberation, we felt that the wine made in these barrels during the 2011 vintage was of such a high standard and incredibly unique that we bottled the wine on its own. 

Sémillon is a variety that we have been playing with for a few years and it adds a wonderful richness to the mouthfeel of the wine and lends enormous capacity for ageing,” says winemaker Justin van Wyk.

“The Sémillon contributes largely to the weighty texture of the Constantia Glen Two, a classic Constantia wine that has outstanding ageing potential and will integrate beautifully for 5 to 10 years from harvest,” adds Justin who recommends enjoying the wine with fresh tuna and caper crostini or salmon sashimi.

Constantia Glen has also just released the new 2009 vintage of the Bordeaux red, Constantia Glen Three. Full-bodied with a juicy texture, this classic Bordeaux-style wine comprising Merlot (41%), Cabernet Sauvignon (33%) and Cabernet Franc (26%), has a long, soft finish, making it extremely refined with excellent ageing potential, yet delicious to drink now.

“The striking dark fruit aromas follow seamlessly onto a mouth-filling palate with incredible texture from ripe, velvety tannins. 

This graceful wine has minerality to balance the rich dark fruit aromas and silky round tannins,” is how Justin describes this perfect companion for rosemary grilled lamb chops, or tea smoked duck breast with oven roasted pears and a blackberry jus.

The Constantia Glen Two 2011 is available exclusively at the cellar door, selling for R175. Constantia Glen Three 2009 is available at boutique wine shops, and sells for R150 at the cellar door.

One of the jewels of the Constantia Wine Valley, Constantia Glen is open daily from 10h00 till 17h00 on week days and from 10h00 till 16h00 on Saturdays and Sundays. 

Look out for the Constantia Glen signs towards the top of Constantia Main road. Call 021 7956100,
e-mail wine@constantiaglen.co.za, visit www.constantiaglen.com or www.facebook.com/ConstantiaGlen for further information. 
The GPS co-ordinates are S 34º 0’39.6” E 18º 24’30.6”.