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.