Few estates in South Africa embody heritage, excellence and continuity quite like Meerlust. Established in 1756 and owned by the Myburgh family for over eight generations, it has been at the heart of Stellenbosch’s winemaking history for more than two and a half centuries. Nestled just five kilometres from False Bay, Meerlust’s vineyards are shaped by cool maritime breezes that temper the summer heat, bringing freshness and elegance to the wines. It is a place where history and innovation meet, producing some of the Cape’s most enduring and collectable bottles.
Meerlust Rubicon - a rebirth in 2021
When Rubicon was first released in 1980, it changed the course of South African winemaking. It was the country’s first Bordeaux-style blend, crafted from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc in a style that rivalled Europe’s best. Over four decades later, it remains one of the Cape’s true icons.
For a time, Rubicon slipped quietly from the spotlight. Other estates emerged, winemaking styles shifted, and global attention turned elsewhere. Yet Meerlust never stopped striving for excellence, and with the arrival of winemaker Wim Truter, the estate is enjoying a remarkable revival. The 2021 vintage marks a new chapter for Rubicon, the first crafted entirely under Truter’s leadership, without influence from his predecessors. The result is a wine that reconnects Meerlust with its heritage while setting a bold course for the future.
Truter’s approach is defined by precision, patience and purity. Drawing on 65 hectares of established vines and an additional 20 hectares of new plantings soon to come into production, he has re-energised the estate with a focus on vineyard health and long-term sustainability. The Rubicon blend brings together 48 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 46 percent Merlot, 5 percent Cabernet Franc and 1 percent Petit Verdot, aged for 18 months in fine French oak, 60 percent of it new. The balance between structure and finesse is exceptional, with every detail meticulously managed.
The Rubicon’s signature profile remains unmistakable: cassis, plum, cedar and graphite framed by fine, supple tannins. Yet under Truter, there is a new dimension of tension and freshness that gives the wine vibrancy and lift. It is a blend that speaks to its terroir, with gravelly soils, ocean breezes and long ripening seasons, while offering the depth and polish of the great Bordeaux it once sought to emulate.
Critics have praised the estate’s resurgence. Greg Sherwood MW called the 2021 one of the most exciting Rubicon releases since 2015 and 2017, while Tim Atkin MW awarded it 98 points, ranking it among the best red wines in South Africa. Beyond its critical acclaim, however, the wine represents something more meaningful: the return of a South African classic to its rightful place among the world’s most admired reds.
Today, Rubicon once again defines what a Cape Bordeaux blend can be: elegant, age-worthy and distinctly South African. It is a wine that honours the past while embracing the present, proof that true classics never fade; they simply evolve.