Durbanville Hills Wines has launched The Tangram 2012 Red Blend of which only 1 659 bottles will be available, all numbered and issued with a certificate. The Tangram red blend will only be released in exceptional years.
As with the Chinese seven-piece puzzle whereby one has to look at the whole to understand and form the myriad of images that can be shaped, The Tangram 2012 Red Blend is greater than its parts.
Cellar master Martin Moore says it’s a humbling experience to have the final product in hand.
The vineyards first had to achieve maturity and we had to focus on how best to use a bigger cellar to build the Durbanville Hills brand into a respected player in the South African market, without letting go of our dream.
And here it finally is!
We allowed the wine to mature an additional year in the bottle after its two years in French oak. As a result, the balance and complexity is exactly what we set out to achieve. It’s really a beautiful wine.
About the wine
Due to the small volumes of the Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec the berries were pumped directly to 500 litre barrels with the barrel head removed to allow for open-top fermentation with manual punch-downs. This method produces softer tannins, better extraction of flavours and overall complexity. Pressing was done in a small basket press from where the wine was transferred to the maturation cellar.
The final blend consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec.
Dark ruby red in colour the wine is complex with sweet wood spice lingering beautifully with ripe dark fruit, fennel, dark chocolate and cinnamon. The wine is full-bodied and rich on the palate with fruit cake, sweet spice and soft tannins leading to a lingering aftertaste.
Moore suggests that for optimum enjoyment, the wine should be decanted at least one hour before serving. If stored under optimal conditions, he estimates the wine would stay at its prime for at least a decade.
The 2012 Tangram Red Blend is only available from the cellar and www.vinoteque.co.za, and retails for R895.
Purchases are limited to four bottles per person. By registering your wine at www.thetangram.co.za buyers can request a certificate signed by Martin Moore. Reservations for the next vintage can be made on the website as well.
