Constantia Glen Two 2015
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Robert
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Pair with: Char Siu pork belly with citrus spice and fresh coriander. Mango and shrimp salad with lime juice and toasted pine nuts. Smoked trout ribbons with dill & lemon crème fraiche and a cucumber pickle.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2015 Two is a blend of 29% Semillon and 71% Sauvignon Blanc, matured in 600-liter demi-muids that are as neutral as possible. It has a delightful bouquet with lemon curd, Golden Delicious apple and a touch of nutmeg. The palate is very well balanced with lemongrass on the entry, a scintilla of waxiness imparted by the Semillon. It fans out with confidence and brio towards the finish, with dried mango, star fruit, and a dab of ginger and gooseberry. This is a complex Two and a delicious one.
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Wine Spectator
Still rather tight, with hints of white peach, tangerine and orange zest edging out a bit from the core, where jicama, honeysuckle and straw notes fill in. The long finish reveals a dusting of talc. Very pure, but needs a little time to unfurl in the cellar. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Best from 2017 through 2020.
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Wine Enthusiast
Bright and fresh, this offers upfront lemongrass, fynbos and fresh herb notes that are supported by a core of gooseberry, white peach and apple. The lightweight body is crisp and refreshing, with a finish that evolves from tart citrus flavors to notes of hay and subtle stony nuance. It’s enjoyable now, but should show best from 2018–2021.
Other Vintages
2016-
Wine
Spectator -
Robert
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Robert
Parker
Ideally located below Constantia Nek, just moments from the bustling Cape Town city center, Constantia Glen is a picturesque boutique wine estate producing ultra-premium, cool-climate wines. The 150-acre property, situated at an altitude of 425-885 feet above sea level, has a mere 75-acres under vine, with production of Constantia Glen wines limited to 100,000 bottles per year. The undulating foothills of the Constantiaberg command hand-harvesting practices, underpinning the handcrafted quality of the wines. Cold maritime breezes from the Atlantic, directly off False Bay, regulate the annual average temperature at a mild 61ºF. Dryland cultivation under these cool climatic conditions results in slow ripening, low yields with exceptional grape quality, and flavor concentration. This makes for crisp white wines and fresh, vibrant reds of great elegance and structure, setting the district apart from other South African wine-producing areas.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
One of the most famous and celebrated wine regions imported throughout Europe during the 18th century, Constantia was founded in 1685 by a Dutch governor named Simon van der Stel who ran a successful wine farm for many years.
Constantia vineyards, planted in ancient soil beds, climb up the east-facing slopes of the Constantiaberg, where the vines receive cool sea breezes blowing in from False Bay.