Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1975

Made before the arrival of Giorgio Dalla Cia, this was Nico's first red wine to be made under the Meerlust label in the modern era and young samples won gold at the Stellenbosch Regional Championship Wine Show. It was kept in French oak casks for a further two years before being launched in 1978 and earned a then-vaunted, industry stamp of approval, a Wine and Spirit Board Wine of Origin Superior gold sticker. It remains an icon wine that pushed South Africa into the next era of fine wine and remains in remarkable condition today.

The 1975 Cabernet Sauvignon was the first wine to carry the Meerlust label and to celebrate the 40th anniversary, current winemaker Chris Williams recently hosted a tasting which culminated in this very bottling. A haunting nose of red fruit, violets, earth and black olive. The palate light but not lacking in detail – alcohol by volume a mere 11%, the acidity fresh acidity and tannins fine, the finish long and savoury. “Vivacious” was the word William used to describe it and he wasn’t wrong.