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Constantia Glen Three 2018
$31.99
About this Wine
2018 was really a fantastic vintage for the red varieties at Constantia Glen. The flavour of the grapes at the time of picking was concentrated and intense with bright aromatics. Good winter rains in June and July of 2017 provided the ideal foundation for our dryland vineyards before they embarked on a cool, yet dry growing season, stretching from September 2017 to March 2018, when the harvest commenced.
The slow and long ripening allowed for the slow accumulation of sugars, and grapes that retained phenomenal acidity right up until picking.
Our estate vineyards showed remarkable buffering capacity and the 2018 vintage has delivered extremely elegant and refined red wines with great richness, texture, aromatic purity, and persistent, mouth-coating tannins. The wines also have great structure and acidity, which will allow for superlative bottle-ageing. The 2018 harvest was quite late, commencing with the first blocks of Merlot on 26 March 2018, and we picked the red varieties over 4 weeks with the last block of the Cabernet Sauvignon coming into the winery on 18 April 2018.
Tasting Notes
COLOUR
Youthful in colour with a dark, deep red core unwinding into a bright and lively garnet rim.
NOSE
The nose of this wine has great expression with forthcoming red and black fruit aromas. Following these initial ripe fruit aromas, there is a complex collection of savoury notes woven with lingering flavours of tomato leaf, blackcurrant, and cedar.
PALATE
The palate shows great intensity and complexity of flavours with the dark fruit and distinct savoury notes on the nose following flawlessly onto that first sip. The fine-grain, elegant and velvety tannins really compliment the richness of the wine and promise great aging potential
if stored under correct cellar conditions. This full-bodied blend has an earthy minerality and an inherent freshness that brings about a lingering, well-defined finish.
Scores & Reviews
4 ½ Stars 2022 Platter’s South African Wine Guide
Another side of Bordeaux, from merlot & cab franc (55/26) with cab. 18 (93 pts) offers succulent fruit in a supple tannin lattice, expertly judged oak structure & spicing (25% new, 18 months) for the ripe choc-dipped black cherry & blackcurrant flavours.
92 pts Tim Atkin MW 2021
Three is an assemblage of Merlot with 45% Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, made from vineyards in one of the warmer parts of Constantia. Juicy, glossy and red-fruited with some spicy oak, a green undertone and a nicely poised finish. 2022-27
90 pts Vinous Nov 2021
The 2018 Three offers ripe brambly black fruit on the nose; touches of licorice and even a hint of dried honey develop with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannins on the entry and flavors of spicy red fruit berry fruit mixed with pain d’epice and clove. This needs a little delineation on the finish but feels reassuringly long. Fine.
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