Tasting Meerlust wines with Wim Truter

Fun opportunity to get acquainted with one of the oldest family owned estate wineries in South Africa. Great job by the winemaker and the importer to put together a very informative and fun tasting.

• 2022 Meerlust Chardonnay

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  Ambitious chardonnay made with 10-15 yr old vines and with quite daring oak regime if I understood the winemaker correctly. Quite creamy, balanced, round mouthfeel with everything in place, but a little short finish and not so much zing to the acidity that you would dare store it for the long haul.
  
  Nice effort, but as its retailing above some quite nice Chablis wines here in Sweden, I think the price point is a little too high for what it is, at least this vintage.

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• 2020 Meerlust Red

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  This has traditionally been there declassified wine but is now moving into a proper Bordeaux style 2nd wine, made in parallel with the flagship Rubicon. About a 1/3 merlot and 1/3 cab franc as I recall. Retailing at USD 17 in the Swedish market. Only 10 % new oak which I think is a smart choice. Lovely green capsicum, red fruited nose, a little grassy Loire red feel to this which I really enjoyed. Good freshness, soft mid palate, maybe there is a sting of alcohol on the finish if you want to be prickly but this is very competitive entry level everyday red that I really enjoyed. Should be a success on any reasonably priced restaurant 's wine list. Drink now or within next couple of years. Recommended.

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• 2020 Meerlust Rubicon

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  48 % Cabernet Sauvignon
  46 % Merlot
  5 % Cab Franc
  1 % petit Verdot
  
  Not sure that 2020 is the best vintage in recent years for red Stellenbosch wines, it has a nice mix of black and red fruit and some oak that has not integrated fully just yet, a green pepper note which is surprising given the high degree of merlot, but perhaps also a little thin on the mid palate. For this vintage I would probably by the 2nd wine the Meerlust Red and not buy for the cellar.

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• 2018 Meerlust Rubicon

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  67 % Cabernet Sauvignon
  19 % Merlot
  10 % Cabernet Franc
  4 % Petit Verdot
  
  Very lovely nose of dark fruit and some peppery spicy notes as well, soft palate, chocolate and pralines on the palate, warm ripe berries but well balanced, with good freshness so does not feel cloying. Not nearly as much tannic grip as for example the 2017 but I think this is very high quality Bordeaux blend that should drink really well early on as well as over the next 7-8 years. Recommended

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• 2017 Meerlust Rubicon

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  66 % cabernet sauvignon
  16 % Merlot
  12 % Cabernet Franc
  4 % Petit Verdot
  
  Fantastic Cabernet nose - Classic deep nose with dark fruits and smoky oak. The acidity is very good, the fruit is there but this is a tannic monster right now. A lot of people at the tasting preferred this but I would say that the jury is still out whether or not the fruit will win over the tannins in the end - only buy this if you have a deep cellar and lots of patience, but very much recommended given that you get a high quality cellar worthy Bordeaux blend red for almost half the price of similar quality in the US or France. Recommended.

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• 2016 Meerlust Rubicon

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  49 % Cabernet Sauvignon
  28 % Merlot
  20 % Cabernet Franc
  3 % Petit Verdot
  
  More redfuited and peppery. Thinner and remarkably less structured than the 2017, but still a very good effort and a nice wine, not sure I would cellar this for ten more years though.

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• 2015 Meerlust Rubicon

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch

  My favourite of the line we tried. Lovely rich nose with extra everything and lots of ripe fruit, dark chocolate notes, but it also has a really well balanced palate and nice finish. Drink now or cellar for another 10 years. Very much showing the high pedigree (if warm and ripe fruited wines) of the South Africa 2015 vintage. Highly Recommended (if you can find it).

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There is a lot of value here for Bordeaux and Napa lovers. Vintage variation is quite high and not every vintage is cellar worthy, nor achieves greatness, but at this price point you could not go wrong to buy a case of the Rubicon regardless. Also the 2nd wine the Meerlust Red is a nice, perfumed, lighter Loire style Cab that is versatile with food and a great early drinker so don't miss that one either.