Tasting Meerlust wines with Wim Truter
Tryffelsvinet, Blasieholmen
Tasted August 26, 2023 by Omar Khayyam with 160 views
Introduction
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.
Flight 1 (7 notes)
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Closing
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.