Winemaker Justin van Wyk, the sage behind Constantia Glen’s acclaimed cool climate wines, is the 2021 Diners Club Winemaker of the Year in recognition of his Platter 5-star Bordeaux-style blend, the Constantia Glen FIVE.
The Winemaker of the Year award, now in its 41st year, is regarded as South Africa’s most prestigious and well-respected wine competition. This year’s award honours the country’s best winemaker of a Bordeaux-style red blend.
Justin earned the title with his Constantia Glen FIVE from the standout 2017 vintage. Hailing from the Karoo, this salt-of-the-earth winemaker has been part of the Constantia Glen team since 2008.
“I feel extremely honoured to be awarded the 2021 Diner’s Club Winemaker of the Year. When I found out that this year’s category was Bordeaux-style red blends, I was very excited to enter our flagship Constantia Glen FIVE. This wine has performed consistently well over the past few years, and there are many people working in the vineyards and cellar that I greatly appreciate. It is an honour to be working on such a phenomenal property, which I believe is a near-perfect site for growing the Bordeaux varieties in South Africa. In summary, I am very fortunate to be the jockey on this really fine horse “says an elated Justin.
Winemaker of the Year is the crowning glory for Justin after both Constantia Glen red and white flagship wines were awarded 5-star ratings in the 2022 edition of Platter’s South African Wine Guide.
A benchmark Cape Bordeaux-style blend with rave reviews from local and international wine commentators, Constantia Glen FIVE 2017 is a consummate blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (32%), Merlot (24%), Cabernet Franc (17%), Petit Verdot (17%) and Malbec (10%). Great richness, texture, aromatic purity, and persistent, fine-grained tannins are the hallmark of the 2017 vintage.
Constantia Glen TWO 2020, the equally impressive flagship Sauvignon Blanc (71%), and Sémillon (29%) blend is Justin’s second Platter 5-star stunner in the 2022 edition. The wine shows absolute fruit purity as well as subtle citrus and waxy notes, which will integrate and develop further into an exceptionally refined wine.
For online purchases visit https://www.constantiaglen.com/order-wine/
Categories: Constantia Glen, Platter’s 5-Star Tasting
