2010 Meerlust, Rubicon, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Critics reviews
Neal Martin - 30/11/2015
Platter Wine Guide, wineonaplatter.com, Oct 2015
About this WINE
Meerlust Estate, Stellenbosch
Making fine wines on the Meerlust Estate has been part of the Myburgh family tradition for eight generations, dating back to 1756. Today, the family tradition of dedication to the art of winemaking continues under the guidance of owner Hannes Myburgh, who studied winemaking at Geisenheim, Germany and Château Lafite and Chris Williams, who took over from Giorgio dalla Cia, and has brought a new energy and style to the wines.
Chris Williams was appointed cellar master in 2004 and brought a new energy and style to the wines, also enhancing the quality of the flagship wine, Rubicon – one of the first Bordeaux-style blends to be developed by a South African producer.
The estate is situated 15 kilometres south of Stellenbosch, with the blue crescent of False Bay just five kilometres away. Two hundred hectares are planted, mainly with red varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir.
Meerlust is uniquely situated 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 aromas and flavours. The soil here is very much like that in Bordeaux, consisting of decomposed granite mixed with clay, and is ideal for growing grapes for fine wine.
Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is South Africa’s best-known wine region, producing a wide variety of wines from leading estates, even though it accounts for less than 20 per cent of the country’s total production. Designated wards within the wine region are Jonkershoek Valley, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Bottelary, Devon Valley and Papegaaiberg.
At 17,500 hectares, Stellenbosch remains the Cape's most famous and important fine wine district, thanks to its proximity to Cape Town, to the cooling influences of False Bay, its mountainous (ie Helderberg, Simonsberg), granitic topography and its centres of learning such as Elsenburg Agricultural College.
It's notable for the refinement of its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, especially from the likes of Glenelly Estate, Keermont Vineyards Oldenburg Vineyards, Raats Family and Anwilka
Other Varieties
There are over 200 different grape varieties used in modern wine making (from a total of over 1000). Most lesser known blends and varieties are traditional to specific parts of the world.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
The 2010 Rubicon is as good as usual, from this classic Cape vintage. The nose showcases the Bordeaux varietals beautifully (62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot) with bell pepper, cassis, black pepper and ripe plum characters. There is a glorious graphite, violet and blueberry charm, with spiciness on the palate. A very well-put-together wine with an impressive body, texture and mouthfeel. Very much drinkable from when it arrives, although it has the potential to age for 15 to 20 years.
Stuart Rae, Private Account Manager
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