Merlot, Meerlust, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2018

85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. 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.

Red Merlot 14%

Meerlust
Purchased in 1756, Meerlust may rank among Stellenbosch’s absolute cult names. With a rich history and a wide range of international awards, this winery is one of the top wineries in Stellenbosch and South Africa. Meerlust’s flagship wine, which freely translates as ‘the pleasure of the sea’, is Rubicon, a Bordeaux blend that can easily develop for years in the bottle and rival the top Bordeaux wines. The Myburgh family finds that the volcanic ‘primeval granite’ in the area is extremely suitable for viticulture, which is soon reflected in the distinctive results of the Meerlust wines. The vineyards are planted in a similar way to the Médoc, with the Cabernet varieties on soils with more gravel and drainage, and the Merlot growing on clayey granite compositions. In November 2019, winemaker Wim Truter joined Meerlust, taking over from Chris Williams to become only the third winemaker to take the reins at this historic estate.