Meerlust Rubicon 2016

Technical Analysis

Winemaker - Chris Williams
Main Variety - Cabernet Sauvignon
Alcohol - 13.9 %vol
pH - 3.52
RS - 2.56 g/l
Total Acid - 5.9 g/l
Appellation - Stellenbosch

Characteristics

Type - Red
Style - Dry
Body - Full
Taste - Fragrant


Accolades

(Wine Safari Score: 97+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)
2017 SAWi Awards - Platinum
Decanter World Wine Awards 2013 - Commended Medal
scored 92 by Neil Martin from The Wine Advocate (eRobertParker.com) December 2012


Tasting Notes

The 2016 Rubicon shows great charm and drinkability even at this early stage, no doubt a result of the high Merlot and Cabernet Franc composition. We were very cautious with regards to tannic structure as some of the later Cabs exhibited astringency which we wanted to minimise in the final blend. Wonderful exotic aromas of plum, sandalwood and perfume, still with a touch of creamy vanilla. The palate is medium bodied with a forward dark fruit flavour of cassis and mulberry followed by a lithe tannic structure fleshed out with juicy fruit. The impression is one of litheness and grace rather than over-arching power.


Ageing Potential

15 - 30 years, provided wine is stored in ideal cellar conditions.

Blend Information

49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot

In The Vineyard

Soil: The Cabernet Sauvignon is grown on low yielding, predominantly biotite partially decomposed granite gravel topsoil rich in quartz and feldspar to a depth of approximately 600mm with a loamy clay subsoil. The Merlot vineyards are planted on more clay rich, yet well drained soils to ensure moisture retention and availability to the vines roots right through the summer. There are considerable deposits of iron-rich Laterite in the Merlot vineyards which accentuates the fruit definition and mineral profile of the wine. The Cabernet Franc Vineyard is situated on very well drained, stony Vilafontes soil with approximately 20% clay which is ideal for this variety.
The Petit Verdot is on Oakleaf 3 soils on a northerly aspect to ensure full phenolic ripeness

About The Harvest

The 2016 growing season was unusually cool but quite dry, presenting unique problems of fruit set and ripening. Irrigation was used strategically even on the mature vineyards to ensure slow ripening and proper flavour and tannin development. The Merlot and the Cabernets were extensively suckered from early in the season, and during veraison vendage vert was applied extensively to ensure an evenly ripe crop.

In The Cellar

The vintage was generally later with some uneven ripeness showing in the later Cabernets. A decision was made to practice very gentle extraction to ensure the wines were not overly tannic or astringent. The Merlots were the star of the vintage and so extended maceration on our best Merlot tanks yielding succulent, opulent wines. The varieties were fermented separately with a combination of remontage and delistage. The wines were transferred to barrel early for malo-lactic fermentation in 55% new Nevers oak, 25% second fill barrels and the remaining 20% in older French oak barrels. The final blend is indicative of the vintage: 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, the lowest in Rubicon history, with 28% Merlot, exhibiting this varieties great expression in the unusual 2016 vintage, 20% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The wine was barrel aged for 16 months before bottling



Other Vintages

Wine Wine Maker Main Variety
Meerlust Rubicon 2021 Wim Truter Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2020 Altus Treurnicht Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2018 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon Magnum 2017 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2016 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2015 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2014 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2013 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2012 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 1.5L Single Bottle Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2010 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2009 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2008 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2007 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2006 (Magnum) Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2005 (Magnum) Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2004 Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2003 Giorgio Dalla Cia Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2001 Giorgio Dalla Cia Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 2000 Giorgio dalla Cia Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 1999 Giorgio dalla Cia Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 1998 Giorgio Dalla Cia Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 1997 Giorgio Dalla Cia Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 1996 Giorgio Dalla Cia Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon 1995 Giorgio Dalla Cia Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon Collector's Tin 750ml Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon
Meerlust Rubicon Magnum Gift Pack Chris Williams Cabernet Sauvignon

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Meerlust Estate Baden Powell Drive P.O. Box 7121 , Stellenbosch, 7599, South Africa