Meerlust Rubicon 2022 1.5L

96 pts Tim Atkin MW 2025
Could Meerlust follow up on its spectacular 2021 Rubicon? The answer is not quite, but that’s mostly a reflection of the hotter vintage. Sourced from the estate’s four distinct terroirs, this is a very classy cuvée of Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Coffee bean, cedarwood and fresh herb aromas segue into a palate that has good density and concentration, bramble, plum and dark berry fruit, a top note of graphite and nuanced tannins. 2026-35

95+ pts Greg Sherwood MW August 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+.

4 ½ Stars 2025 John Platter’s South African Wine Guide
Always impressive, iconic Cape Bordeaux blend pioneer. 22 (93 pts) introduces 12% cab franc to typically cab/merlot dominated blend, with splash petit verdot. Richly ripe & hedonistic with 21 ***** (95 pts)’s controlled muscularity, brooding black fruit highlighted with rosepetal fragrance. Oaking as for the Red, 50% new, touch less Hungarian.