2017 was really a fantastic vintage for the red varieties at Constantia Glen and the wines from this vintage have garnered the same respect as those made in 2015. The flavour of the grapes at the time of picking was concentrated and intense with bright aromatics.

A carefully crafted blend of 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 17% Petit Verdot and 10% Malbec, matured for 18 months in 75% new and 25% second-fill French oak (225L) barrels. Following barrel maturation, the wine only received a very light filtration before making its way into bottle on 5 December 2018. With no fining agents used during the production of this wine, a harmless sediment may occur during maturation in the bottle. This is truly a stunning vintage of the Constantia Glen FIVE, which we hope will continue to age and
develop beautifully in bottle, and it should easily do so for 12 to 15 years under ideal cellaring conditions.

COLOUR
Youthful in colour with a very dark magenta core unwinding into a bright and lively garnet rim.
NOSE
Bright aromas of ripe blackcurrant, juicy plums and fragrant dried herbs. This first impression is
underpinned by a multitude of savoury notes that demand further exploration. Graphite, cedar
and floral aromas start emerging from the glass, and finally once the whirling liquid comes to
rest; the bouquet concludes with hints of violet, cassis and wild fynbos florae.
PALATE
The palate has a dramatic entry as one consumes the concentrated dark fruit flavours that were
evident on the nose, but the mid-palate displays fantastic balance between refinement and
power. The textbook ripening conditions of the vintage combined with meticulous attention to
extraction- and maturation methods in the cellar, have led to a compellingly structured wine
with excellent freshness and depth. The delicious, fine-grain tannins provide a structured
backbone and incredible mouth-coating texture. The wine comes across as tightly wound in its
youth with enormous ageing potential. The ever-present Constantia freshness provides for a
long, lingering finish that will have you beckoning for another sip.