Tuesday, 19 September, 2017
Durbanville Hills Cellar
Of the 1659 bottles of The Tangram produced - reflecting the year in which wine was first produced in South Africa - Durbanville Hills Cellar Master, Martin Moore, says that only 350 bottles of each blend were allocated to be sold at the brand home, highlighting the growing global demand for premium South African wines.
“With more than half of the range having been allocated to international distributors, situated in a variety of locations around the world, it is clear that South African wines of this quality are becoming a sought-after commodity in international retail markets. Having been awarded an outstanding 92 points in Tim Atkin’s SA Wine Report and a Gold Outstanding Award at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), the range is essentially selling out before it hits the shelves - which is a truly humbling feat for any wine cellar to achieve.”
However, as Moore explains, The Tangram - as the name suggests – is no ordinary range of wine. “A Tangram is a Chinese geometrical seven-piece puzzle which can be arranged to make various forms and pictures to tell a story. Our seven pieces comprise the four elements (earth, wind, fire, water) and our three winemakers coming together to create a wine that is indeed greater than its parts. As with a Tangram, our latest releases too have their own stories to tell.
“The Tangram 2013 Red, driven by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, is a classic Bordeaux-style blend with smaller components of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. With a sweet wood spice aroma, this rich, full-bodied wine will last at least a decade,” says Moore.
He goes on to describe the story behind The Tangram 2016 White. “The winter preceding the 2016 vintage was dry, followed by a cool pre-season. A warm spell in January accelerated ripeness and ensured very healthy grapes. Both the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon were handpicked at optimum ripeness in the early morning. The finished product is a rich, full-cantered wine that boasts flavours of citrus, spice, and grapefruit with a nutty and lemon wax finish.”
Moore concludes that the various elements unique to the Durbanville Hills Wine cellar, landscape and winemakers, have all woven together to craft each of these two exclusive blends. “Similar to mastering the Tangram, where one has to look at the whole puzzle to understand and form the myriad of images to be shaped, in the end, each of The Tangram wines is greater than the sum of its parts.”
Visit www.durbanvillehills.co.za for more information on these top-ranking wines.