Meerlust Rubicon 2021
By Christian Eedes, 24 May 2024
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Rubicon 2021 from Stellenbosch property Meerlust is quite the achievement. It was the first vintage that saw Wim Truter entirely in charge as head winemaker, but it did offer exceptionally favourable growing conditions and Truter is quick to acknowledge this.
Perhaps, however, it is a case of all things coming together for good, viticultural improvements begun in the 2000s and continued throughout the 2010s, now yielding positive results. This is a big property with 65ha under vineyard and a further 20ha set to come online in the next few years. Is high quality at volume possible in the local context? Production of Rubicon 2021 was 126 000 bottles…
So how does it taste? Consisting of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, maturation lasted 18 months in 300-litre barrels, 60% new. The nose shows red and black berries, hints of rose and dried herbs, vanilla and pencil shavings while the palate is medium-bodied (alc: 14.2%) with good freshness and fine tannins. A seamless wine with great fruit expression and a long finish. Price: R590 a bottle.
CE’s rating: 95/100.
Check out our South African wine ratings database.
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Dieter Gugelmann | 27 May 2024
I tried the Meerlust Red in February and am thrilled with this wine. Also from its price. As Christian wrote, it is already wonderfully accessible and easy to enjoy.
I also bought the Rubicon 2021 and stored it in my wine cellar. I’ll wait until 2026 to drink it and I’m already looking forward to this certainly great wine. I give this wine a lifespan until 2032,
Rubicon has been a cult wine for decades. Giorgio dalla Cia already composed the wine based on Bordeaux models and for a long lifespan. Such wines have their price and it is worth every rand!
Greg Sherwood | 24 May 2024
Did you taste the Meerlust Red 2021? Do we know how much of that they will make? On my last visit to SA in March 2024, Rubicon 2020 was R545pb on the shelf. Do punters feel this is a price point that will be low enough to maintain the icon brands market reach or will venues start to switch to other cheaper brands like Alto Rouge, KWV Roodeberg etc?
Christian Eedes | 25 May 2024
Hi Greg, We did taste the Red 2021, now a permanent addition to the range as sold in SA – Cab Franc is the lead variety at 36% (the rest Cab, Merlot and Petit Verdot), and it’s has pretty aromatics while being relatively lighter in body and more immediately accessible than Rubicon (I would be inclined to score it 91). For me, it fills much the same role in the Meerlust portfolio as Richesse does in that of Le Riche. Other wines of comparable price and standing would be R&R Classique and Anthonij Rupert Optima, Alto Rouge and Roodeberg a tier or two down. To a greater or lesser extent, you get what you pay for…