93 Points Tim Aktin

'Two is an impressive, separately fermented cuvée of Sauvignon Blanc with 29% Semillón. Fermented in 15% new 600-litre barrels, this is spicy and textured, with creamy lees, grapefruit and fynbos flavours and a saline, refreshing finish. Classy stuff. 2023-28.'

An elegant wine with exceptional balance and length and fantastic ageing potential.

Tasting Notes 

A rich and concentrated blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, this barrel-fermented wine combines oak and tropical fruit flavours with a well-integrated minerality.

Colour

Clear and bright with a straw-like gold colour, tinged with lime green. 

Nose

Elegant notes of white peach and blackcurrant, with delicate aromas of lime, green fig, and orange blossom. The wine is tightly wound but shows fantastic purity of fruit as well as some citrus and waxy notes, which will integrate and develop into a very refined wine. 

Palate

The entry is fresh with bright acidity, good fruit concentration and depth. Good restraint and elegance with stony mineral nuances, the fresh acidity is beautifully balanced with a mouthcoating creamy texture on the palate, which is brought about by barrel fermentation and maturation on the gross lees for 8 months. Furthermore, 29% of this blend is Sémillon, which contributes weight and texture, making this a truly harmonious blend with an intriguing saline quality that lingers well onto your next sip.  

Vintage

2020 was yet another fantastic vintage for the white varieties at Constantia Glen. The flavour of the grapes at the time of picking was concentrated and intense with good acidity. The harvest was preceded by a cool summer growing-season, but a warmer-than-usual month of February hastened the ripening at the end ever so slightly. This meant that we harvested a week earlier than the two previous vintages. Thanks to well established vineyards with excellent root systems, the grapes retained phenomenal acidity despite fairly warm conditions just before harvest. Our dryland vineyards showed remarkable buffering capacity and the 2020 vintage has delivered extremely elegant and refined white wines with great richness, texture, and delicious, mouth-coating acidity that lingers on the palate. Picking of the Sauvignon Blanc commenced on 18 February 2020 and continued for 3 weeks as each different clone and vineyard block achieved optimal ripeness and flavour concentration. The white grape harvest came to a close on 6 March 2020 when the block of Sémillon, making up 29% of this classic Constantia white blend, was safely harvested and processed into the winery.  

Vineyards

Constantia Glen has a unique position cradled between the Constantiaberg and Table Mountain (World Heritage Site) ranges, with predominantly north-east facing slopes. This singular location allows for exposure to late afternoon sun, ideal for the slow ripening that shapes our classically expressed wines. Decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone are the dominant soil types that lend minerality and the graceful character to our wines. High water retention of the rich clay sub-soils allows for sustainable dryland cultivation, while ecologically sound practices include biological insect and pest control by means of natural predators. 

History of the Cellar

Ideally located below Constantia Nek, just moments from the bustling Cape Town city centre, Constantia Glen is a picturesque wine estate producing ultra-premium, cool climate white and red wines. The 60-hectare property, situated 103-2790 meters above sea level, has a mere 29 hectares under vine with product of wines limited to 120, 000 bottles per annum. Although winemaking began in 1685, recent history begins with the Waibel family, who purchased the land in 1960. Although this land is difficult to farm - as evident by rapid change of ownership from 1813-1960 - the dedication, patience and passion of the Waibel family has proven reward.

Having used the land predominantly as a stud farm, it was in 2000 that the Waibel family planted their first grapes and they now produce four wines. Perhaps most unique about Constantia Glen is its location. Although this region is predominantly known for its white wines, Constantia Glen is situated between the mountains, providing red grapes with the conditions needed to mature. Dryland cultivation under these cool climatic conditions results in slow ripening, low yields with exceptional grape quality and flavour concentration, thereby producing elegant Bordeaux blends. In addition to Sauvignon Blanc and the `Two` (a blend of Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Sémillion), Constantia Glen produces the `Three` - a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon Franc and Merlot` and a `Five` - which includes the addition of Malbec and Petit Verdot. 

Specifications