Klein Constantia Sauvignon Blanc 2019
By Christian Eedes, 19 October 2020
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The challenge faced by South African producers of scalability at the top end of the market has been a perennial topic of debate, an example of a property that’s getting it right is surely Klein Constantia, the 2019 of its standard-label Sauvignon Blanc not only very good but total production amounting to 135 000 bottles while cellar-door price is R150 a bottle.
80% of the wine underwent spontaneous fermentation and the final blend contains a 5% barrel matured component, this basically being batches of wines that don’t make it into the more limited-edition bottlings.
It’s a particular wine with subtle aromatics of nettle, dried herbs above citrus and white peach before a palate that is relatively lean with a driving acidity and a very savoury finish.
CE’s rating: 93/100.
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Gert | 19 October 2020
It seems to be much better than the 2018 that you rated in Jan 2020?
Christian Eedes | 20 October 2020
Hi Gert, January 2020 seems like a lifetime ago. Although the two vintages have similar analyses, I find the 2019 to be particularly well balanced – vintage variation is increasingly a factor when it comes to assessment of local wines. Of course, Sauvignon Blanc is extraordinarily changeable in its youth so maybe I simply caught the 2018 during an awkard phase.
Hennie C | 19 October 2020
We klapped a bottle of this on Friday night at the Vineyard Hotel. I thought it was by far the best sauvie I’ve had in years. I don’t drink a lot of SB, but if everyone can get to these aromatics, mouthfeel and precision, I would reconsider my aversion for the grape. I would score it a point or 2 higher actually.