Constantia Glen Three 2011
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Robert
Parker
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2011 Constantia Glen Three is a blend of 45% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Franc and 18% Cabernet Sauvignon raised for 17 months in 42% new and the remainder second-fill French oak, its aim to be more approachable than the other cuvées. It has a vibrant peppermint-tinged bouquet with lush red cherries and cassis aromas following suit, later wild fennel. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, the Cabernet Franc coming through nicely adding freshness, touches of green bell pepper and cedar wood, the finish winding down a little to retain elegance. Very fine.
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.