Community Tasting Notes 28

• johnrm Likes this wine: 89 points

  September 2, 2022 - This did not reach the impressive level of earlier bottles for me when first opened. It was OK a few hours after opening and accompanied grilled steak quite well but it seemed a bit flat and ordinary. Next day, with cheese, the fruit came through a little more positively but the end taste still had a little too much acidity and tannin.
  However, a third of a bottle was tasted on the second and third days and improved greatly over that time. Good fruit on the fragrant nose and there was enough remaining soft acidity and tannin to accompany food with style.
  Perhaps it suffered at first from being served with other reds (including ‘sweeter’ Malbecs and a bottle of 20 year old Ch. Musar at a family gathering. Maybe it it is time to move on to younger vintages but my initial reaction was too harsh, given the way it developed after opening. I have added a point.

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• Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 90 points

  August 18, 2022 - Very luxe nose, feels more merlot based than claimed with a grated chocolate character and a plushness to the silky red fruits. Very well done though. Look forward to the second half tomorrow.

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• johnrm Likes this wine: 91 points

  December 31, 2021 - This has come together beautifully. Pretty much as my earlier notes but even better after another 18 months in the cellar - more ‘together’. It retains the deep colour, fine nose, ‘sweet’ dark cherry fruit, good soft tannins, balance, and length. Excellent. Plenty of life, yet.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

• Zoomin Z Likes this wine: 91 points

  December 19, 2021 - Blackfruits and licorice on the nose. A medium-weight body with a hint of tannins remaining. Smooth sailing on this one.

  Comment

• Vinterest Angus Likes this wine: 93 points

  January 4, 2021 - Retrospective note. Tasted many times 2015-2016. Superb wine with tertiary notes already coming through. Will look for more.

  Comment

Pro Reviews 4

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2012
• Type Red
• Producer Rustenberg
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation John X Merriman
• Vineyard n/a
• Country South Africa
• Region Coastal Region
• SubRegion Stellenbosch
• Appellation Stellenbosch

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 246 (40%)
• Consumed 372 (60%)

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