2021 Meerlust Rubicon: 98 points, Tim Atkin

Plus a special evening tasting of the Meerlust range on the 12th of March

Meerlust Estate was first settled in 1693, and has been owned by the Myburgh family since 1756. Situated a mere 5km from the shoreline of False Bay, the estate is cooled by the winds which blow in from the sea, as the dunes of Macassar Beach give way to verdant rows of vines and the gleaming white walls of traditional Cape Dutch farm buildings. This exposed location, with strong maritime influence in an otherwise warm region, makes Meerlust ideally suited to grow Bordeaux varieties.

Rubicon was first produced in 1980, in a time when Bordeaux-style blends were rare in South Africa. The name was suggested by Afrikaans poet and friend of the Myburghs, Dirk Opperman; this wine represented the future of the estate, the path upon which they would irrevocably set themselves. Today, the work of winemaker Wim Truter and the team at Meerlust ensure that the wine continues to live up to this expectation. 

2021 marks the 40th vintage (the wine is not produced every year) of Rubicon. Following a blessedly wet winter, spring and summer 2020 were dry, long and cool, without heatwaves to disrupt a remarkably consistent ripening period. Harvest in early 2021 was a breeze, without significant pressure from either heat or disease. Yields were low, but otherwise the vintage produced a wine of superb quality, with the structure for long-term ageing. While Meerlust modestly suggests that Rubicon will age for 10 to 20 years, bottles from the '80s are still enjoyed by those lucky (and patient) enough to possess them. /JH

Join us on Wednesday 12 March for an evening tasting of the Meerlust range with Diedre Taylor, Export Manager for the estate. She'll take us through a selection of their wines, as well as showing older vintages of Rubicon, and share her insights into the region.

Offered subject to remaining unsold. Wines expected to arrive late-Spring 2025. To place an order, click on the wines below or call 020 7638 5998