Cabernet Sauvignon

Roast meat and game.

The 2019 season will be remembered for the difficult growing conditions with no Rubicon being released. The carry-over from the 3-year drought was still evident in what was a much smaller harvest. Due to weather conditions, budding was uneven and bunches loose. The growing season itself was relatively cool during the day and night, with triple the amount of rainfall as in the previous two seasons. Most of the blocks were harvested around the normal time, with the exception of later red cultivars such as this Cabernet Sauvignon. The harvest season was characterised by regular rain showers with more than 100 mm recorded from January to March.

After this initial time in barrel, the final selection for the wine was made, the components racked and blended together, and the final wine was moved back to barrel and Foudré for a further 12 months of maturation. 70 % new French oak was used in the maturation. Due to the fact that no Rubicon was released in 2019, the best Cabernet Sauvignon components were selected for this blend.

The wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and is made up from two very distinct parcels on the farm. Blocks were hand-picked and vinified separately and racked straight to barrel for 6 months where the components underwent malolactic fermentation.

Meerlust is a historic Stellenbosch wine estate with eight generations of family winemaking dating back to 1756. Best known for its flagship Rubicon Bordeaux-style blend, the estate also produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with vineyards shaped by the cooling influence of nearby False Bay.