"...a brilliant Rubicon release, right up there with the best reds in the country...98 points" - Tim Atkin MW

The latest 2021 vintage release of Meerlust Rubicon has been released for sale and is available from bond, with a massive 98 points from Tim Atkin MW.  At just £165 per six in bond, it's an awful lot of wine for the money!   

Situated just south of Stellenbosch and only a stone’s throw from the coast, Meerlust Estate has been family-owned since 1756 and home to the Myburgh family for over eight generations. The name Meerlust, meaning “pleasure of the sea,” reflects the estate’s location, the cooling influence of the nearby Atlantic Ocean shaping the freshness of its wines. The estate is also home to very diverse soils; from decomposed granite to clay-rich alluvial deposits, providing the foundation for complex expressions of Bordeaux varietals and Chardonnay.

Meerlust was a pioneer in South African fine wine, releasing Rubicon in 1980, one of the country’s first Bordeaux-style blends. Named after Julius Caesar’s historic crossing of the Rubicon River, Meerlust’s Rubicon symbolizes the estate’s own turning point in South African wine history. In 1976, inspired by a formative family visit to Bordeaux, the Myburgh family returned to Stellenbosch inspired to make a wine in the style of a cru classé.

The 2021 growing season began with higher rainfall than in the previous (drought-impacted) season, meaning the soil was well saturated. Low soil temperatures delayed bud break, but despite sustained cool conditions, the flowering and fruit set were ideal. Véraison followed the seasonal trend and was generally up to 14 days later than the previous season. Ripening was consistently about 10-14 days later than the previous year, with moderate temperatures leading to good hang times. In spite of the cooler conditions, the red varieties achieved ideal sugar and alcohol levels, with lower pHs and higher acidity than in recent seasons. The wines have intensity and freshness coupled with a fine tannin structure.

2021 Rubicon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (48%), Merlot (46%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Petit Verdot (1%), each variety fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300L barrels and large foudrés.  After 8 months in barrel, the components were blended and given another 10 months in barrel before bottling. 

Offered in bond, available July 2025.