In 1885, the Cape Colony's new government viticulturist, Baron Carl von Babo, described Pontac as 'the most valuable' of the country's red grapes, producing a 'very excellent' dark wine. First planted here in the 17^th century and a key component in legendary Red Constantia, the red-fleshed teinturier had all but disappeared worldwide. However, Sadie Family and Hartenberg are among currently those reestablishing it as a heritage grape.

It appears Montagu general merchant PJ Joubert matured this 1890 for over two decades before bottling it under his own name, given that the label states 'Produce of South Africa' (a country which didn't exist until 1910).

'When suitably blended with Muscadel or Frontignac, [Pontac] becomes a wine of rare and outstanding quality, quite unlike anything else that our vineyards can produce,' wrote C Louis Leipoldt in 300 Years of Cape Wine (1952), describing an 1866 Muscadel-Pontak as 'one of the most exquisite liqueur wines I have ever drunk'.