Prime Spot Tignus 2016

Back to the future.

Laibach winemaker Francois van Zyl has launched his own label namely Prime Spot, the first wine being Tignus 2016, a 50:50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsault. “I like Cinsault because it gets to full ripeness at low alcohol. Most of the wines which currently get all the intention are too big for me. All competitions should be held in February and the wines served at room temperature – then we’d get a different set of results,” he says.

In the case of Tignus, the Cab comes from unirrigated bush vines in Stellenbosch and the Cinsault from Paarl, the wine matured for 18 months in old oak and the alcohol a relatively moderate 13.5%. On the nose, cranberry, cherries and plums plus some pleasing herbal character while the palate is medium bodied with lovely fruit expression, bright acidity and fine but still grippy tannins – it recalls the SA reds of a bygone era, a counterpoint to the many highly concentrated, very polished wines out there. Price: R1 000 per six-bottle case.

Editor’s rating: 92/100.  

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