Constantia Glen Five 2020

 ABOUT THE WINE

A carefully crafted blend of 28% Cabernet Franc, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 17% Petit Verdot and 10% Malbec, matured for 19 months in 72% new and 28% second-fill 225 litre French oak barrels. Following barrel maturation, the wine received a very light filtration before making its way into bottle on 17 December 2021. With no fining agents used during the production of this wine, a harmless sediment may occur during maturation in the bottle. This is a classic and bold vintage of the Constantia Glen FIVE, which will continue to age and develop admirably in bottle for up to 10 to 15 years from harvest under correct cellaring conditions.

COLOUR, NOSE & PALATE

Youthful in colour with a very dark ruby core unwinding into a bright and lively magenta rim. Dark and brooding aromas of Morello cherries, ripe blackcurrant and juicy black plums underpinned by a fragrance of violets and dried herbs. Savoury background notes of cocoa, cedar, and graphite demand further exploration. The palate entry is bold with rich and concentrated with the dark fruit flavours, but the mid-palate displays fantastic balance and finesse. This compelling, structured wine is beautifully centred with excellent freshness and depth. The delicious, fine-grain tannins provide mouth-coating texture and excellent persistence and length. The wine comes across as tightly wound in its youth with incredible ageing potential.

WINEMAKING

2020 was a remarkable vintage for red grape varieties at Constantia Glen. It was a somewhat warmer vintage than both the preceding and following vintages, but the quality of fruit was outstanding. Despite it being an earlier vintage than usual, our vineyards still ripened the grapes optimally and we achieved fantastic phenolic ripeness, which allowed for confident extraction of tannins and flavours during vinification. The reds from this vintage are striking and powerful, yet they posses the typical elegance and finesse that our cool-climate region is known for.