Rubicon

Serve with slow roasted lamb shank and oven roasted sweet potato.

The 2017 vintage was surprising in that from the very beginning it was similar to the superb 2015. A cold winter in 2016 followed but a warm spring ensured early and evening bud break. Although comparatively dry, as the Cape was still experiencing a drought, the 2017 crop was greatly enhanced by our ability to irrigate strategically, ensuring steady ripening and eventual phenolic development of even the later ripening vineyards. Strict green harvesting and exposure of the fruit to gentle morning sun yielded perfectly healthy and ripe fruit across all the varieties.

After 8 months in barrel, the components were blended and given another 10 months in barrel for harmonization before bottling.

Very similar in key way to the renowned 2015 vintage, our winemaking practices focused on capitalizing on the perfect weather conditions. Coupled with this, most of our vineyards over 2 decades old, ensuring a perfect balance between vigor and crop size. The 2017 Rubicon is a classically proportioned blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, each variety was fermented separately before undergoing malolactic fermentation in 300L barrels, 60% new French Nevers and 40% second fill casks.

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.