Very deep, youthful ruby colour with an intense garnet hue. It offers aromas of blackcurrant, black plum, tobacco and cedarwood and graphite combined with oyster shell typical to our Cabernets’. Still young and intense, the palate is structured and packed with ripe black berries and wonderfully elegant tannins. Dark chocolate and salted liquorice on the finish. This is a classic and elegant vintage and will provide great complexity with further maturation.
Ageing Potential – 10 – 15 years, provided wine is stored in ideal cellar conditions
$34.99
4 ½ Stars 2025 John Platter’s South African Wine Guide
Sombre & introverted yet oozing class, 22 (94 pts) unfurls in glass to pinpoint varietal character: earthy blackcurrant spiked with aromatic liquorice & tobacco, robust tannin, hint spice from 18 months 50% new 300L barrel (as all unless noted). Years from peak, allow time, as all.
94 pts Tim Atkin MW 2025
Meerlust’s stand-alone Cabernet Sauvignon comes from vines close to the river that retain moisture in hot vintages like 2022. This has an effortless, cool elegance to it that’s typical of the new Meerlust style under Wim Truter and Altus Treurnicht. Refined tannins and bright acidity complement a core of cassis and basil framed by 40% new oak. 2026-32
Cabernet Sauvignon was the first wine produced under the Meerlust label, first vintage 1975.
The wine is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and is made up from three very distinct parcels on the farm. Blocks were hand-picked and vinified separately and racked straight to barrel for 6 months where the components underwent malolactic fermentation. After this initial time in barrel, the final selection for the wine was made, the components racked and blended together, and the final wine was moved back to barrel for further 12 months of maturation. 50% new French oak was used in the maturation.
This Cabernet Sauvignon is a true expression of the variety as grown on the Meerlust estate and draws fruit from three of our four distinct terroirs namely:
Compagniesdrift – The soils from this warm north facing slope are predominantly formed from weathered granite. The wines originating from this granitic hilltop are expressive and bold in structure, mainly due to the coarse gravelly texture and sufficient soil depth to promote long and even ripening.
The Quarry – The extremely rocky terrain consisting of greywacke with interbedded shales
provides a unique substrate for vines. Shallow rooted vines on this cool and windswept foot slope
leads to wines with characteristic red fruit with exceptional length, detail, and precision.
River Terraces – Sandy soils laced with rounded river stones allow for excellent root proliferation.
This area of the Estate experiences the greatest shift between day and night temperatures,
promoting flavour development of these delicate and fruit forward wines.
