August 7, 2016 - Bought this years ago at the winery, loved it at that time.
Still enjoyed it, but this bottle had an unbelievably strong smoky mesquite smell and taste. I've only experienced something similar on other south african wines. I enjoyed the wine but found this aspect to be a bit strong at this time.
December 9, 2015 - Brick red, has those brownish edges. Started off with a ton of chalk, as it warmed up more meat and leather, nice and savory. As it ended there was a little green bell peppers. Very savory palate, similar to dried meat. Notes of coriander, black pepper and dried herbs. Smooth tannins (6/10) with a little bite at the end. Balanced with a moderate body. Dry finish that lingers for quite a bit. Solid acidity in the finish as well. Very well balanced and structured. Delicious Cabernet from South Africa, and as the fact sheet says, this has held up perfectly well. Loving the meat, pepper and spices in these wines. If you haven't tried a wine from Meerlust we highly recommend it, especially the Rubicon! Now till 2018.
January 12, 2014 - Light cassis nose with a hint of chalk. A hint a acidity and moderate body with 6/10 tannins. Acidity also in the finish which is moderate to long.
November 17, 2013 - Classic blackberry and cedar aromas. Full of ripe bright fruit, blackcurrant pastille, cassis and cedar with a little floral note. Good length and depth with good grip and nice freshness. The best bottle yet.
August 16, 2013 - Blackcurrant and cedar nose, much less smoky and woody than previous bottles. Nice sweet bramble fruits on the entry with a very delicate grip from the fine tannins. Creamy on the finish.
July 22, 2013 - Double decanted for 5 hours. Much more open and fruit-forward than the last bottle. Nice leafy blackcurrant nose with cedar and a little tobacco. Still quite youthful and spicy with grippy tannins cleansing the blackcurrant fruit. Good.
July 11, 2013 - Really smoky nose that becomes a bit more plummy with time in the glass. The cigar smoke aromas continue into and dominate the palate. There is a little grip from the fine but spicy tannins and a nice bit of blackberry fruit that comes through with time. Feels a little subdued and would have benefitted from a long decant.
September 15, 2012 - Blind home wine tasting with MOT Scoring sheet: This is the formal score the next day - Classic clean chalk and dusty earthy with moderately heavy tannins. Dry french style cab with only a hint of fruit. Not Napa fruit bomb style. Most enjoyable.
September 14, 2012 - - Purple color with medium forming legs and aromas of dusty and has flavours of dusty, chocolate and black currant with a medium/full body - Trying to rate directly using the cellarvu rating system.
February 18, 2012 - Blind home wine tasting with MOT Scoring sheet (At Home in the Cave): Scores seems a little high and I will retaste. Dark red with enjoyable light berry and light clean dust/chalk on the nose. Heavy good tannins and well rounded with a moderately long finish. Enjoyable.