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Meerlust Rubicon 2003 bottles         $31.89

Meerlust Rubicon 2003 Stellenbosch, South Africa
"A South African classic that lives up to its reputation. In past vintages I've found Rubicon perhaps a little hard and angular, but today the 2003 is showing beautifully, with sweet, elegant fruit. The nose is ripe, sweet, mineralic and cedary, with a subtle gravelly edge to the ripe red and black fruits. There's some soft earthiness here, too. The palate has a lovely combination of sweet fruit with minerally earthiness, in quite a Bordeaux-like mould, but perhaps without the sternness that classic Bordeaux can show in its youth. It's a fantastic wine in quite a traditional style, which is drinking well now but which will age well. 93/100"
15/04/2008 - Jamie Goode's wine blog

VINIFICATION

The varieties were fermented separately in steel tanks for 10 days. After malo-lactic fermentation the wines were blended in a ratio of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. Once blended the wine was matured in Nevers barriques for 24 months. 80% new wood and 20% second fill. After bottling, the wine was further matured for 24 months before release.

TASTING NOTES

Intense, opaque ruby core with cerise rim. Powerful primary nose of black currant, cigar box, smoked meat and minerals promising long maturation potential. On the palate the wine shows remarkable approachability with intense dark fruit juiciness coming from a renowned Cabernet Sauvignon vintage. Tannins are still structured but there is plenty of fruit density to reward further aging.

AGEING POTENTIAL

15 – 20 years, provided wine is stored in ideal cellar conditions.

IDEALLY SERVED AT

18° - 20° C

COMPLEMENTS

Venison, game, pot roast and noble cheese

Contact Sue Anderson to purchase: 296-1640 or email sue@willowpark.net

Meerlust Rubicon 2001 Magnums         $44.48

03/06/2006 - MEERLUST RUBICON 2001 – TOP 100 WINES OF 2006
The Meerlust 2001 Rubicon has been voted number 27 on the Wine Enthusiast Top 100 wines for 2006. The Rubicon 2001 was made by the previous Cellar Master at Meerlust, Giorgio Dalla Cia, who was responsible for creating the first commercial Rubicon blend in 1980 together with Nicolaas Myburgh, the father of the current owner, Hannes Myburgh. Giorgio worked as the Cellar Master at Meerlust for 25 years.

"Over a quarter of a century ago, this was one of the first South African Bordeaux Blends. It is still one of the best, a ripely tannic, firm wine that owes a lot to the structure given by ripe grapes from mature vines. Great acidity, great black currant fruits, and great style" reported Wine Enthusiast.

Hannes says "I am extremely proud of Giorgio and the team at Meerlust. To receive this rating is a great honour."

VINIFICATION

The varieties were fermented separately in steel tanks for 10 days. After malo-lactic fermentation the wines were blended in a ratio of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Once blended the wine was matured in Nevers barriques for 24 months. 80% new wood and 20% second fill. After bottling, the wine was further matured for 24 months before release.

TASTING NOTES

Ultra dark, intense, opaque & concentrated. Very youthful with cerise rim. Exuberant cassis fruit on the nose, black cherry, blackcurrant & nettle-bush followed by cigar box, red earth & hints of minerality. The wine is full bodied with a concentrated fruit core wrapped by lush, sleek tannins and an earthy minerality. Refreshingly dry on the finish, the wine has a prolonged pleasant aftertaste.

AGEING POTENTIAL

15 – 20 years, provided wine is stored in ideal cellar conditions

IDEALLY SERVED AT

18° - 20° C

COMPLEMENTS

Venison, game, pot roast and noble cheese

Contact Sue Anderson to purchase: 296-1640 or email sue@willowpark.net