Meerlust Rubicon 2022

Meerlust Estate Rubicon, Stellenbosch , South Africa, 2022  

Grapes: A blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc & 4% Petit Verdot with 18 months' ageing in large French oak (60% new). Fruit sourced from four estate sites: Compagniesdrift, River Terraces, Quarry and Lowlands.

Producer Tasting Note:

The 36th vintage of Rubicon has a youthful deep ruby red colour. A complex perfume of violets, ripe black plum, blackberry, cassis with cedar wood, bouquet garni and potpourri spice. Still young and intense, the palate is full bodied, packed with fresh dark fruit and rounded tannins and seamlessly integrated oak and a lifted acidity. This wine offers balance and elegance.

Ageing potential of 10 - 20 years, provided the wine is stored in ideal cellar conditions.

Critics' Tasting Notes:

"Mint chocolate, bay leaves, tobacco and black fruit on the nose, followed by a full-bodied, polished palate with firm but creamy, fine tannins. Nicely focused. Drink or hold."  James Suckling, September 2025

“The 2022 Rubicon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (44%), Merlot (40%), Cabernet Franc (12%) and Petit Verdot (4%). The deep broody blue black fruit aromatics retain an enticing brambly, savoury, mellow aromatic elegance showing violets, lavender and a freshly tilled earth complexity. The warmth and dryness of the 2022 vintage shows in the wine’s rich generous mid-palate, with a plush accessible breadth but also a supple, creamy, attractively sweet fruited glycerol palate weight. This 2022 has the sweet fruit concentration of 2020 combined with the structural precision and elegance of 2017 but with perhaps an extra intensity of minerality, chalky granitic spice and pure black fruit persistence. A delicious Rubicon expression. Drink from 2026 to 2045+"

95+/100 points, Greg Sherwood MW, August 2025

"Meerlust is one of South Africa's most classicist, historic estates, founded in 1693. Johannes Myburgh purchased the 400 hectare property in 1757, and it has been in his family ever since. Rubicon is their top Bx blend, an age worthy estate blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. Each parcel of each grape was fermented separately before heading to 300L barrels for 8 months. After blending, this rested another 10 months in barrel prior to bottling. Perfumed cassis, black plum, dark earth, and baking spices fill a juicy, full bodied palate, with dark cocoa dusted tannins that finish with a dark espresso grip. Lovely structure here, drinking very smartly now (partner with grilled steaks) and with time ahead in your cellar"

92/100 points, Treve Ring, Gismondi on Wine, November 2025

Also awarded 96/100 points, Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2025 and 4.5 Star in the Platter's Wine Guide (South Africa), 2025

Food Match: Great with venison, game, pot roast and noble cheeses.