Meerlust

Meerlust, with its historic manor house, classic wine cellar, family cemetery, dovecote and bird sanctuary is situated fifteen km south of Stellenbosch and is uniquely positioned for the production of wines with exceptional complexity and character.

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CHARDONNAY202423.30
Pale-yellow colour with a green, vivacious hue. Complex, appealing nose of apricot, yellow apple, lemon zest and floral notes with hints of toasted almonds. On the palate the wine is well structured and linear but retains generous focused stone fruit flavours with sleek, balanced, and crisp acidity. The wine remains vivacious and fresh on the finish with clean citrus fruit underpinned by minerality. The wine has a long, very pleasant lingering finish. Maturation for 9 months in 30% new oak.
Tim Atkin: 94, J. Robinson: 17/20, Platter: 91
CABERNET SAUVIGNON (Magnum 1,5l) *201751.70
Intense, vivid purple colour with slight gradation at the rim. On the nose the wine shows pronounced plum and classic cedar wood-cigar box notes with lifted dark fruit aromas. There is the characteristic hallmark aromas of fennel and liquorice associated with Meerlust Cabernet. On the palate the wine is full bodied but with richness of fruit and supple tannic structure typical of 2017. The intensity, harmony and balance all promise maturation over the next decade. 17 months in tight grained French oak barrels. 70% of the barrels were brand new with 30 % second fill casks.
Platter: 94, Tim Atkin: 93
CABERNET SAUVIGNON202024.35
Very deep, youthful colour with an intense garnet hue. The nose shows dark and red fruit mixed with a slight mint note. Still young and intense, the palate is structured and packed with ripe blue berries and wonderfully elegant tannins. Dark chocolate and salted liquorice on the finish. This is a powerful vintage despite the challenging season and will provide great complexity with further maturation. Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend with some Merlot and dash of Petit Verdot. Some 18 months in oak with about 50% new.
Tim Atkin: 94, Platter: 93
CABERNET SAUVIGNON202125.40
To mark the 50th anniversary of its first bottling, Meerlust has released the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon under a special commemorative label in individual tin (gift) containers. Matured for 18 months in barrel, 50% new, the nose is immediately engaging. Red and black berries to the fore, with rose, the faintest touch of leafiness, cigar box, vanilla, pencil shavings and oak spice lending further complexity. The palate shows excellent fruit purity, vivid acidity and fine, supple tannins. There is impressive volume and texture despite a modest alcohol of 13.5%, the finish elegant rather than assertive, long, but not overly dry or grippy.
G. Sherwood: 95+, Ch. Eedes: 95, Tim Atkin: 95, Platter: 93
MERLOT *201720.60
Merlot based blend with 8% Cabernet Franc and 4.5% Petit Verdot. The dark fruit and opulence of the wine is immediately apparent. Balanced, flavourful fruit. Intense dark brambly fruit on the nose, mulberry, liquorice and damson plum with hints of dark chocolate and spice, tempered by a stony minerality. The medium-full bodied palate offers generous, ripe, pure Merlot fruit with refreshing acidity, structured yet silky tannins and pronounced length and minerality. There is a core of juiciness, opulence and richness typical of the variety, while the Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot lend greater complexity to the wine. Maturation took place in 54% new French oak, 46% second fill for 17 months before bottling.
Platter: 93, Tim Atkin: 91
MERLOT *202022.65
Deep red with purple edges. Typical Merlot characteristics on the nose with ripe plum and dark cherry notes underpinned by some dried herbs and oak spice. The palate is generous, while still delicate on the finish, showing complex cherry tobacco flavours coupled with a fine acidity. This wine shows the elegance and fruit purity of the 2020 vintage and will age gracefully and will gain in complexity and suppleness of tannin for many years to come. 87% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The individual parcels are all fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 L barrels. After 8 months in barrel, the final components were selected and blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling.
Platter: 93, Tim Atkin: 93
MERLOT202223.10
Deep ruby red. Typical Merlot notes of black plum, dark cherry, dried herbs underpinned by mocha and tobacco. The palate is generous with juicy dark fruit, while still delicate on the finish, showing complex cherry tobacco flavours coupled with a fine acidity. This wine shows will age gracefully and will gain in complexity and suppleness of tannin for many years to come.
Platter: 94, Tim Atkin: 94
MERLOT202324.50
Deep ruby red. Notes of brooding ripe black plum, dark cherry, dried herbs underpinned by dark chocolate and oak spice. The palate offers a concentrated dark fruit core, balanced with a lifted acidity while still delicate on the finish. This wine shows the balance, intensity and fruit purity of the 2023 vintage and as with all Merlot's from the estate, will age gracefully and will gain in complexity and suppleness of tannin for many years to come. Grapes from a few individual parcels all fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 L barrels. After 6 months in barrel, the final components were selected and blended and put back to barrel for 12 months in 40% new French oak for further maturation before bottling.
Ch. Eedes: 92
PINOT NOIR *202323.75
The wine shows a vibrant garnet colour with a youthful appearance. On the nose the wine shows pronounced lifted floral perfume with a brooding and seductive red berry fruit, earthy, wild mushrooms, and hints of spice. On the palate there are very pure Pinot fruit flavours on entry with red cherry and musk flavours coupled with fresh acidity. The wine has layered complexity with great elegance and finesse. Fine lacy, almost powdery tannin on the finish. Maturation took place in new and second fill 300L barrels.
Tim Atkin: 93, Platter: 92
PINOT NOIR202424.75
Meerlust's Pinot noir comes from two blocks planted with the 115 Dijon clone in 2006 and 2017. Fermented cool to preserve fruit and freshness, this has redcurrant and goji berry flavours, savoury tannins and well-handled oak (10 months in a combination of 50% new and second-fill 300L French oak barrels and large Foudre).
Tim Atkin: 93, Platter: 92
RED BLEND202114.70
Youthful ruby red colour, with a garnet red hue. Supple red and black fruit, with warm spice on the nose with some supporting oak notes. Still young and intense, the palate is full bodied, structured but packed with fresh red fruit and soft rounded tannins. Blend of 36% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot. Malolactic fermentation took place in 300 L barrels and large foudre. After 8 months in oak, the components were blended and given another 8 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling.
Tim Atkin: 91, Platter: 90, WS: 90, IWSC: 90
RED BLEND202215.60
Effectively the second wine of Rubicon, it uses fruit from younger parcels as a rule. It has fine tannins, plenty of zip and energy, fynbos and fresh herb top notes and succulent bramble and summer berry flavours. Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot with ageing in 10% new wood, Every parcel of each variety was fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 L barrels and large Foudre. After 8 months in oak, the components were blended and given another 8 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling.
Tim Atkin: 92, Ch. Eedes: 92, Platter: 90
RUBICON (Magnum 1,5l) *201758.30
A classy wine from a really top vintage. Marrying 68% Cabernet Sauvignon with 16% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Each variety was fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 L barrels, 60% new French Nevers and 40% second fill casks. After 8 months in barrel, the components were blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling. This is a subtle, refined, nuanced Rubicon with herbal, earthy, tobacco and graphite perfume, fine 60% new wood, polished tannins and a long, graceful finish. Traditional in style and rightly proud of it.
Tim Atkin: 96, Platter: 95, IWSC: 92, WS: 91
RUBICON202130.05
Very youthful colour, deep and dense with almost purple hue. Quintessential Rubicon nose with violets, ripe plum, cedar wood, fennel, and intense spiciness. Typical liquorice notes also evident on the nose. Still young and intense, the palate is full bodied, structured but packed with fresh dark fruit and rounded tannins and seamlessly integrated oak. 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. After 8 months in barrel, the components were blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling.
Tim Atkin: 98, G. Sherwood: 96+, Platter: 95, T. Cannavan: 95, IWSC: 92, WS: 91
RUBICON202230.05
Deep aromatics of cassis, plum, and black cherry, layered with violets, cedarwood, and graphite. Full-bodied and structured with a rich, generous mid-palate and "sweet fruit concentration." The tannins are rounded and cocoa-dusted. 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Every parcel of each variety was fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 L barrels. After 8 months in barrel, the components were blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling.
Tim Atkin: 96, Greg Sherwood: 95+, Nathalie Mc Lean: 95, Platter: 93
RUBICON (Magnum 1,5l) *202260.10
Deep aromatics of cassis, plum, and black cherry, layered with violets, cedarwood, and graphite. Full-bodied and structured with a rich, generous mid-palate and "sweet fruit concentration." The tannins are rounded and cocoa-dusted. 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Every parcel of each variety was fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 L barrels. After 8 months in barrel, the components were blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling.
Tim Atkin: 96, Greg Sherwood: 95+, Nathalie Mc Lean: 95, Platter: 93
RUBICON202330.05
The 2023 Rubicon leads with intense dark fruit, slight savoury nori notes followed by graphite and cool herbal tones. The palate is still very tightly curled, and opens with power and persistence with decanting. A Rubicon that truly expresses the ageability of the sites, but with elegance and balance that allows for earlier drinkability. 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 7% Petit Verdot. Every parcel of each variety was fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300 L barrels. After 8 months in barrel, the components were blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling.
Greg Sherwood: 96+, Platter: 95, Ch. Eedes: 95