COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2021
GRAPE
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
PRODUCER
Meerlust Estate
REGION
Western Cape
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
High
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
Medium - High
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
The Meerlust Rubicon 2021 is a red wine from Stellenbosch, South Africa, produced by Meerlust Estate. It is a Bordeaux-style blend, a flagship wine for the estate. The name 'Rubicon' symbolizes a point of no return, reflecting a commitment to a new path in winemaking. Meerlust Estate has been owned by the Myburgh family since 1756. The estate's location benefits from the cooling influence of False Bay, which aids in slow grape ripening. The 2021 vintage experienced cooler growing conditions and higher winter rainfall, leading to a later harvest and extended ripening, which contributed to the grapes' composition and the wine's quality.
ALCOHOL
14.0%
AVG. PRICE
€46
STYLE
Classic
VEGAN
YES
SULPHITES
When to drink
Later
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Named after Julius Caesar's decisive river crossing.
Fact 02
Meerlust means 'pleasure of the sea'.
Fact 03
A pioneering Bordeaux-style blend in South Africa.
Fact 04
Family-owned since 1756.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The Meerlust Rubicon 2021 is produced from grapes sourced from four estate sites. Each parcel of each variety is fermented separately. Alcoholic fermentation occurs in stainless steel, followed by malolactic fermentation in 300-liter barrels and large foudres. The wine then undergoes aging for 18 months in French oak barrels, with 50% to 60% being new oak. The 2021 vintage benefited from cooler growing conditions and higher winter rainfall, leading to a later harvest and extended ripening period, resulting in lower yields but promising grape composition and wine quality. Red cultivars achieved ideal sugar and alcohol levels with lower pHs and higher acidity than in recent seasons.
