Notes
'Alea iacta est. The die is cast,' Julius Caesar is supposed to have said as he led his troops towards Rome in 49BC. The crucial border of the ancient capital was the Rubicon River, and the decision to cross it marked an irrevocable point in history. It would profoundly shift the course of Roman politics - there could be no turning back.
Some 2000 years later, a watershed event occurred in the life of Nico Myburgh, father of the current custodian of Meerlust, Hannes Myburgh. Holidaying in Bordeaux, he discovered that the terroir in this area of France was similar to that of the Eerste River Valley. Both have a distinctive climate, characterised by a cooling sea breeze. And both have a soil structure made up of decomposed granite and clay.
The red wines produced by the two regions, however, were very different. Unlike the Western Cape's specified cultivars, Bordeaux thrived on producing blends.
Nico returned to Meerlust filled with inspiration and the desire to create a blend of his own that would match those of the French. In 1980, after several years of experimentation together with winemaker Giorgio Dalla Cia, he announced the birth of the new blend. With proportions of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, a new style of wine had been created in South Africa. Like Caesar, there could be no turning back.
Nico and Giorgio had already considered a number of names for the new blend when Professor Dirk Opperman from the University of Stellenbosch, a friend of Nico's suggested that 'Rubicon' might be appropriate. The pair had, after all, crossed a new frontier - and changed the way South Africans thought about red wine.
Tasting notes:
'The medium to dark ruby-colored 1995 Rubicon was aged in 80% new oak (with the balance being first year barrels) for 18 months. It exhibits fabulous aromas of dark fruits, spices, and some candied strawberries. It has a lovely satiny texture, excellent focus, elegance, and is crafted in a feminine style. This concentrated, spicy, cherry and blackberry syrup-flavored offering has an exceptional finish filled with plums and tangy black currants.' – Wine Advocate, 90/100
'A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. The wine has an intense purple, almost black appearance with a light rim. On the nose, it has powerful, ripe berry and blackcurrant aromas supported by elegant plum and vanilla scents. Hints of clove spice and cedar wood are testimony to the barrel ageing and youth of the wine. The palate has a mouthfilling bouquet of berry fruit and ripe plums, supported by fine tannins and fresh acidity. The wine already has a velvety, rich mouthfeel and a long, lingering aftertaste.' – Meerlust
'Alea iacta est. The die is cast,' Julius Caesar is supposed to have said as he led his troops towards Rome in 49BC. The crucial border of the ancient capital was the Rubicon River, and the decision to cross it marked an irrevocable point in history. It would profoundly shift the course of Roman politics - there could be no turning back.
Some 2000 years later, a watershed event occurred in the life of Nico Myburgh, father of the current custodian of Meerlust, Hannes Myburgh. Holidaying in Bordeaux, he discovered that the terroir in this area of France was similar to that of the Eerste River Valley. Both have a distinctive climate, characterised by a cooling sea breeze. And both have a soil structure made up of decomposed granite and clay.
The red wines produced by the two regions, however, were very different. Unlike the Western Cape's specified cultivars, Bordeaux thrived on producing blends.
Nico returned to Meerlust filled with inspiration and the desire to create a blend of his own that would match those of the French. In 1980, after several years of experimentation together with winemaker Giorgio Dalla Cia, he announced the birth of the new blend. With proportions of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, a new style of wine had been created in South Africa. Like Caesar, there could be no turning back.
Nico and Giorgio had already considered a number of names for the new blend when Professor Dirk Opperman from the University of Stellenbosch, a friend of Nico's suggested that 'Rubicon' might be appropriate. The pair had, after all, crossed a new frontier - and changed the way South Africans thought about red wine.
Tasting notes:
'The medium to dark ruby-colored 1995 Rubicon was aged in 80% new oak (with the balance being first year barrels) for 18 months. It exhibits fabulous aromas of dark fruits, spices, and some candied strawberries. It has a lovely satiny texture, excellent focus, elegance, and is crafted in a feminine style. This concentrated, spicy, cherry and blackberry syrup-flavored offering has an exceptional finish filled with plums and tangy black currants.' – Wine Advocate, 90/100
'A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. The wine has an intense purple, almost black appearance with a light rim. On the nose, it has powerful, ripe berry and blackcurrant aromas supported by elegant plum and vanilla scents. Hints of clove spice and cedar wood are testimony to the barrel ageing and youth of the wine. The palate has a mouthfilling bouquet of berry fruit and ripe plums, supported by fine tannins and fresh acidity. The wine already has a velvety, rich mouthfeel and a long, lingering aftertaste.' – Meerlust
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WA 90
Country
ZA
Region
Stellenbosch
Style
Red
