£165 for 6 x 50cl = £28

Been to the Tesco tasting today. Notes to follow, but had to give you this one hot off the press.

Sweet Jesus, what a smell! This is phenomenally delicious. Like perhaps a few very ripe apricots, plus a ripe mango and maybe half a lychee. I cannot spit it. **

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mel

phenomenally delicious

South Africa does it again - and at an affordable price.

Klien C. have been making very good wines for decades - as long as I can remember. When Tony Laithy started out with his few Bordeaux Direct shops around Berkshire (Taplow, Windsor, Caversham Road) you could buy it in there, along with a very very rubbery Pinotage.

The rubbery Pinotage was a flavour revelation for me when I first tried it, I was ed, stunned even and I kept one back for 10 years I suppose.

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Duncan

Only since 1986 ...

I'm not sure £28 for 50cl is an 'affordable price' for many people, = £42 bottle.

Seems expensive, to me because I was buying it when it was a third of that price...

The verdant Constantia valley, home to Klein Constantia Estate, is the oldest, most enduring vineyard region in the Cape, first producing wine in 1689.

You being awkward and obstreperous Mr P

From the time I first dipped into SA, way way back at the begining of the 70's this producer and their forefathers from there were always at the head of the table ....For those SA wines that managed to arrive at UK shores.

When a wine is described as phenominaly delicious, a wine lover looks over his shoulder at best Sauternes for a comparison. £42 for best Sauternes is very affordable.

For a UK resident who has had to suffer uk tax at times, inflation and wine fashion hikes, and then shell out plenty, and then store the occasional nectar from Sauterne and Barsac. I know what it is like for us.

The history of the place:
http://www.kleinconstantia.com/history.htm

I rest my case.

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Duncan

You were 100% not buying wine from this producer in the 1970's however much you may bluster!

Pontac - you are a wind-up merchant - I don't have SA producer detail changes at my disposal. The terroir there remains the same !

The wine was of the Constantia Estate, and the vineyards are a development of the original properties established there, as far as I know. So enlighten us - Oh Wise One.

The name "Klein" appeared to be a later owner / investor or buy-out of some kind. Hitherto, the wine producer of that renowned pinotage I mentioned, was known as Groot Constantia.

Come on - lets have it Pontac ! I don't have your local inteligence.

I'm not bothered if it is merchant banker of some kind, who now owns the Estate since 1986. The point being.....Is that the fruit from the vineyards and the traditions there are carried forward.

Pontac - Write up the details that I don't know. Please.
Also, write up about quality SA wines that may be enjoyed in the UK - of late, there have been very few initiated by you !

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Duncan

A wind-up merchant is one that tells tall stories hoping that other's will believe it --- such as buying Klein Constantia wines in the 1970's.

You didn't, but don't worry because its understandable that ones memory gets muddled as one gets older.

Now you're saying that you bought some other wines with Constantia in the name -- mebbe.

We didn't see much in the 1970's because of sanctions and most of what came to UK was KWV

Thank you Pontac, your jibe and my research, has jogged my memory for the Constantia wines that were rising stars at the time.

Indeed, my poor memory. I missed worded my original post believing Klien and Groot were of the same estate, which they are in terms of Terroir, except that Klien did not sell wines under that name until after 1980.

Klien, had re-introduced Vin de Constance in 1986 as you have said. However - You will see that I never claimed to have bought and enjoyed Klien's Vin de Constance.

In fact I had bought, as I said in the previous email, Hitherto, the wine producer of that renowned pinotage I mentioned, was known as Groot Constantia. I have now googled, and understand that The Constantia Estates were split into 3 properties in 1979/80.

Klien, Groot and adjoining Colyen.

Research:
Groot was bought by the Cape goverment and produced wines from the 1885 or so, but most of the old vines were destroyed by Phylloxera in 1899. The American wild vine stock was used to combat the plague.

In 1969 the South African Cultural History Museum, presently part of Iziko Museums of Cape Town, became responsible for the running of the farmstead and historic “Cloete” wine cellar. During 1971 a wine museum was established in a part of the wine cellar by the South African Cultural History Museum, and important wines were produced

This is the pinotage, the Groot Constantia I speak of, and there are three different labels for 1970 to 1975, I think I bought on label no. 3. Groot also produced some renowned cab sauvignon and syrah wines. I had a couple of cab as well, which were easier for me to understand at the time.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?i ... 00&Label=3

Pontac the reason why I say you are a wind-up merchant is because you could have been informative, rather than combative, and said, "that I had missed quoted the producer from the original Constantia estate, which has since been sub divided". I had bought this Constantia wine 35 years ago !

This comment from you is clearly designed to be objectionable - why ?
A wind-up merchant is one that tells tall stories hoping that other's will believe it --- such as buying Klein Constantia wines in the 1970's.

You recently had a go at Goosegogs, in a similar tone. I don't know why you do this ?

Do you think you could be more informative, when I dabble with wines from South Africa ? I have a couple of recently acquired ones.
La Couronne cellars, Cab S. '05 - Coastal region - very high ALC
Mont Rochelle, Merlot /Cab S. '03 - Franschhoek

Pontac - Drink or keep advice for these two, please.

Please explain 'mebbe' ? Cheers

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Duncan

Dessert wines were first made on the Constantia Estate in the late 1660s and were celebrated in the literature of Austen, Dickens and Baudelaire

From these Elysian fields used to come one of the very greatest wines in the world - the legendary Constantia,” writes Hugh Johnson, “Constantia was bought by European courts in the early 19th century in preference to Yquem, Tokay, Madeira...” Kings vied for possession of this wine. Louis Philippe sent emissaries from France to fetch it, Napoleon drank it on the island of St Helena, finding solace in his lonely exile, Frederick the Great and Bismarck ordered it and in England the Prime Minister - who had sampled it with much delight at Downing Street - made sure that consignments from the Cape were delivered to Buckingham Palace for the King

According to a friend of mine it apparently became the most expensive wine in Europe back in the courts of Louis XVI

I am amazed. All I posted was that Klein Constantia didn't produce wine until 1986 and in response you call me a 'wind up merchant' then you call me 'awkward and obstreperous'.

I didn't take these as 'clearly designed to be objectionable' thinking you were joshing and sSince it seemed you liked using such terms it seemed response from me in similar vein would ne acceptable. Seems I was wrong, apologies.

On your other questions - tomorrow - hav eto go, losing my access

Read it as "maybe"

Don't always have the time.

La Couronne cellars, Cab S. '05 - Coastal region - very high ALC

I'd drink this sooner than later - the 05 vintage of this one wasn't considered as good as previous or later vintages

Mont Rochelle, Merlot /Cab S. '03 - Franschhoek
This was a one-off blend from them - I'd drink now as I reckon its at its peak

Incidentally -- there is a connection between the two operations. Rochelle took over operations of Couronnes's hotel and Rochelle took over Couronnes farm.

Cheers for the info, Pontac

I know that Mike went to only one cellar door in SA, so I realise now, how he bought those wines from different properties back. He wouldn't have known about the acquisition.

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Duncan

La Couronne cellars, Cab S. '05 - Coastal region - very high ALC 100% Cab S.

I would not buy this, although new world folks would love it. A lot better than Hardy's awfull Crest though. A bit too soft for me as well.

15.5% ALC is way over the top. The cigar box, cinnamon spice, and plum pudding flavour was good. The wine was ready as Pontac had said, and more depth appeared the next day. A very dense wine, but Cab Port is strange to me, and one had to be rather careful, otherwise you'd be half-cut on 2/3rds of a bottle !

Pity about the ALC level, the flavour had matured quite nicely, no sediment at all, the denseness remaining / locked-in suspension ?

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Duncan