Meerlust’s estate sits in the southwestern corner of Stellenbosch, open to the winds off of False Bay. This wine is dominated by its toasty oak when first opened, in need of at least a day of air to integrate all that richness and bring forward a delicate, pale florality nestled in a green-apple-skin tannic bite. It lasts beautifully—open it the day before a dinner party and track its evolution a splash at a time until the guests arrive.

Dark berries, dried herbs, cedar and dried spices on the nose following through to full body with firm tannins. Rich core of dark berries at the center with a grippy texture around the edges and a compact, chewy finish. Try after 2024.

A medium-bodied, fruit-forward red with cherries, raspberries, tobacco leaves and sweet spices. Fine tannins with a core of dark cherries and a joyful, juicy finish. Drink or hold.

“Sadly, there is no Rubicon in 2019, as all the parts were declassified. Thankfully, the 2019 Meerlust Red was blended from 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The nose is juicy and ripe with fresh red fruit tones, turned earth and soft brown baking spices before showing delightfully dusty flowers that lift the bouquet. Medium to full-bodied, this is rich, precise and focused, offering a balanced structure with a firm tannic edge, while flavors of red cherry skin and spiced plums sway over the long, lingering and spicy finish. The wine aged in 46% new French oak for 17 months. 180,000 bottles were produced. This may be the best bottling of Meerlust Red yet!”

“Composed of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with 19% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Rubicon offers a broad-shouldered expression with an Old World essence. The nose explodes with a wide variety of aromas, expressing a subtle Old World funk with an equally pleasing amount of New World vibrancy and freshness. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers dark fruit flavors with a fine beam of acidity while expressing a firm tannic edge that will loosen in time. The wine glides to a refined and complex finish that will continue to evolve gracefully for a decade. Unfortunately, there will not be a 2019 Rubicon.”