Meerlust Estate Rubicon

The Rubicon is a true expression of the Meerlust Estate and draws fruit from their four distinctive terroirs. Very youthful colour, deep and dense with almost purple hue. Quintessential Rubicon nose with violets, ripe plum, cedar wood, fennel, liquorice notes and intense spiciness. Still young and intense, the palate is full bodied, structured but packed with fresh dark fruit and rounded tannins and seamlessly integrated oak.

• Winery: Meerlust Estate
  
• Varietal:Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
  
• Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa
  
• Vintage: 2020
  
• Alcohol: 14.5%
  
• Volume: 750ml
  
• Closure: Cork
• Food pairing: Venison, game, pot roast and noble cheeses

The Rubicon Story - "Alea iacta est. The die is cast," Julius Caesar is supposed to have said as he led his troops towards Rome in 49BC. The crucial border of the ancient capital was the Rubicon River, and the decision to cross it marked an irrevocable point in history. It would profoundly shift the course of Roman politics - there could be no turning back. Some 2000 years later, a watershed event occurred in the life of Nico Myburgh, father of the current custodian of Meerlust, Hannes Myburgh. Holidaying in Bordeaux, he discovered that the terroir in this area of France was similar to that of the Eerste River Valley. Both have a distinctive climate, characterised by a cooling sea breeze. And both have a soil structure made up of decomposed granite and clay. Nico returned to Meerlust, filled with inspiration and the desire to create a blend of his own that would match those of the French. In 1980, after several years of experimentation together with winemaker Giorgio Dalla Cia, he announced the birth of the new blend. With proportions of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, a new style of wine had been created in South Africa. Like Caesar, there could be no turning back." Merlust Estate

Long recognised for producing world-class wines, Meerlust Estate has been the pride of the Myburgh family since 1756. Today, the traditional dedication to the art of winemaking continues under the guidance of Hannes Myburgh, eighth generation custodian of this seventeenth-century national monument.

Meerlust, with its historic manor house, classic wine cellar, family cemetery, dovecote and bird sanctuary is situated fifteen kilometers south of Stellenbosch, with the blue crescent of False Bay a mere five kilometers away. Wines are only made from grapes grown on the Estate which is uniquely positioned for the production of wines with exceptional complexity and character.

In the summertime, ocean breezes and evening mists roll in from the coast to cool the vineyards. The grapes ripen slowly, thus achieving full, concentrated varietal flavours. The soils consist of predominantly deep, well drained Hutton and Clovelly soil types, affording the vines excellent drought resistance and an ideal substrata for producing concentrated, complex wines.

• 96/100 Points  - Tim Atkin, 2023 SA Special Report (2020 vintage)
• 95/100 Points  - Tim Atkin, 2022 SA Special Report (2018 vintage)
• 91/100 Points - Wine Spectator (2018 vintage)
• 90/100 Points - CellarTracker (2018 vintage)
• 97+/100 Points - Greg Sherwood MW, Wine Safari (2017 vintage)
• Platinum - 2017 SAWi Awards (2017 vintage)
• Commended Medal - 2013 Decanter World Wine Awards (2017 vintage)
• 92/100 Points - Neil Martin, Wine Advocate (2017 vintage)