Meerlust Estate

The pride of the Myburgh family since 1756

Long recognised for producing premium wines, Meerlust Estate has been the pride of the Myburgh family since 1756. Today, the dedication to the art of winemaking continues under the guidance of Hannes Myburgh, 8th generation custodian of this 17th Century national monument.

The first owner of the property, a German immigrant named Henning Huising, recognised the beauty and potential of the farm and settled there in 1693. He named his new-found home Meerlust, meaning ‘pleasure of the sea’, as the manor house sits on a granite outcrop only 5km from False Bay (15km south of Stellenbosch), and in the warm summer months the vineyards are refreshed by ocean breezes and evening mists which roll in from the coast. The grapes ripen slowly, thereby achieving full, concentrated varietal flavours.

Meerlust were the pioneers of Bordeaux varietals in the Cape, and were the first to produce their iconic, award-winning wine, ‘Rubicon’ in 1980. When visiting Bordeaux, Nico Myburgh, Hannes’ father discovered that the climate and soil was similar to that of the Eerste River Valley – a watershed moment. At the time, the red wines produced by the two regions, however, were very different. Unlike the Western Cape’s specified cultivars, Bordeaux thrived on producing blends.

Nico returned to Meerlust, filled with inspiration and the desire to create a blend of his own that would match those produced in France. In 1980, after several years of experimentation together with winemaker Giorgio Dalla Cia, he announced the birth of the new blend. With proportions of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, a new style of wine had been created in South Africa. The pair had crossed a new frontier, making an innovative step towards shaping the South African production of today.

The name Rubicon comes from the Rubicon River, the border of the ancient capital. It is said that Julius Caesar led his troops to Rome and making the crucial decision to cross the Rubicon, marked an irrevocable point in history. This move shifted the course of Roman politics – there could be no turning back.

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. Wim holds a degree in Chemistry, Oenology and Viticulture from the University of Stellenbosch. He then pursued the international MSc Vintage qualification in Vine, Wine and Terroir Management that included stints studying at the Ecole Superieur d’Agriculture, Angers, France, the Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy and the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia in Valencia Spain. He is assisted by winemaker Altus Treurnicht and the cellar team and in the vineyards by viticulturist Izak Basson and his team.

The Myburgh family has a commitment to social responsibility and has a long history of investing in their workforce through the Meerlust Foundation, which aims to provide a safe and stimulating environment for the children of the farm workers. To further this, the Myburgh Family Trust was established, to initiate projects that would benefit their farm workers in a meaningful and economically viable way.

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Rubicon 2018 — Meerlust Estate

Rubicon 2018

Stellenbosch, South Africa

67% Cabernet Sauvignon
19% Merlot
10% Cabernet Franc
4% Petit Verdot

Tasting note

Very deep, youthful colour, and intense almost purple hue. Quintessential Rubicon nose with violets, ripe plum, cedar wood, fennel, and intense spiciness. A typical liquorice note also evident on the nose. Still young and intense, the palate is full bodied, structured but packed with fresh dark fruit and rounded tannins. This is a vintage that is more approachable in youth because of the ripeness and richness levels attained in 2018 but will provide great complexity with further maturation. Ageing Potential: 10 – 20 years, provided wine is stored in ideal cellar conditions.

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Estate Red 2019 — Meerlust Estate

Estate Red 2019

Stellenbosch, South Africa

43% Cabernet Sauvignon
31% Merlot
21% Cabernet Franc
5% Petit Verdot

Tasting note

The wine has an intense, dark purple colour with a violet rim. Bright and vivacious in the glass, very youthful. The nose is expressive with powerful cassis, plum, exotic spice and hints of floral aromas. On the palate the wine is medium bodied with intense flavours of crushed black fruit, cassis, vanilla and dark chocolate. The tannins are very soft and silky with fresh acidity and a focused, linear flavour profile. The wine has a persistent and long lasting aftertaste.

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Chardonnay 2022 — Meerlust Estate

Chardonnay 2022

Stellenbosch, South Africa

100% Chardonnay

Tasting note

Very bright pale-yellow colour with green, vivacious hue. Complex, appealing nose of apricot, peach, pear, lemon zest and floral notes with hints of toasted almonds. On the palate the wine is well structured and linear but retains generous focused stone fruit flavours with sleek, balanced, and crisp acidity. The wine remains vivacious and fresh on the finish with clean citrus fruit underpinned by minerality. The wine has a long, very pleasant lingering finish.

 

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Pinot Noir 2021 — Meerlust Estate

Pinot Noir 2021

Stellenbosch, South Africa

100% Pinot Noir

Tasting note

Pronounced lifted floral perfume on the nose with a brooding and seductive dark berry fruit, musk, wild mushrooms and hints of iron, savoury richness and spice and an intense vibrant minerality. On the palate there are very pure Pinot fruit flavours on entry with red cherry and musk flavours coupled with fresh acidity. The wine has layered complexity with great elegance and finesse. Very fine lacy, almost powdery tannin on the finish.

 

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Merlot 2018 — Meerlust Estate

Merlot 2018

Stellenbosch, South Africa

88% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

Tasting note

Brick red colour with crimson edge. Typical Merlot characteristics on nose with ripe plum and dark cherry notes underpinned by some dried herbs and oak spice. The palate is plush while still delicate on the finish, showing complex cherry tobacco flavours coupled with a fine acidity. This wine shows the intensity and concentration of the 2018 vintage and as with all Merlot’s from the estate, will age gracefully and will gain in complexity and suppleness of tannin for many years to come.

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Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 — Meerlust Estate

Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

Stellenbosch, South Africa

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting note

Very deep, youthful colour, and vibrant red hue. The nose shows dark and red fruit mixed with a slight dried herb note. Still young and intense, the palate is structured and packed with fresh red cherries and wonderfully elegant tannins. This is a vintage that is more approachable in youth because of the ripeness and richness levels attained in 2018 but will provide great complexity with further maturation.

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Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 — Meerlust Estate

Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Stellenbosch, South Africa

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting note

Very deep, youthful colour, and vibrant red hue. The nose shows dark and red fruit mixed with a slight dried herb note. Still young and intense, the palate is structured and packed with fresh red cherries and wonderfully elegant tannins. This is a vintage that is more approachable in youth because of the ripeness and richness levels attained in 2018 but will provide great complexity with further maturation.

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Meerlust wines receive great scores from Greg Sherwood MW!

Meerlust wines receive great scores from Greg Sherwood MW!

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Maisons Marques et Domaines holds its Annual Portfolio Tasting

Maisons Marques et Domaines holds its Annual Portfolio Tasting

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2016 Rubicon’s unique blend has arrived!

2016 Rubicon’s unique blend has arrived!

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Maisons Marques et Domaines holds its Annual Portfolio Tasting

Maisons Marques et Domaines holds its Annual Portfolio Tasting

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Rubicon 2015 has arrived!

Rubicon 2015 has arrived!

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MMD Holds its Annual Portfolio Tasting

MMD Holds its Annual Portfolio Tasting

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