Limited stock. This refreshing white blend has an expressive nose dominated by tropical & passion fruit with multiple layers of complex flavours on the palate as a result of the diverse blend components. This wine is named after a lady rumoured to have been a particularly close friend of Simon van der Stel, the first Governor of the Cape. Vineyards had perfect canopies
- allowing optimum light penetration for the ripening of bunches & development of good colour. 61% Sauvignon Blanc, 28% Chardonnay, 4% Semillon, 4% Viognier, 2% Roussanne, 1% Grenache Blanc. Overall 2011 was a harvest that brought a smile to a weary Viticulturists face! Although we had a dry winter, there was plenty of water when required in the hot summer months to get the vineyards to mature naturally without undue stress. At harvest, perfect phenolic ripeness with lovely soft, ripe tannins was achieved. The berries came in at lovely low sugars due to cool conditions at harvest, awesome colour & great quality berries. The grapes for this wine were selectively h&-picked in the morning. Harvested: h&-picked February
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Concentrated cassis, black cherries & some herbaceousness on the nose & palate. A cold, wet Winter in 2009 allowed for the lovely, even budding of the vineyards during Spring, & the warm, sunny days that followed in Summer resulted in great flavour & colour development in the berries. Full fruit flavours & soft tannins, together with good aromatics & ideal acidity, made 2010 an excellent vintage. ...

The intrinsic Sauvignon Blanc characteristics of tropical fruits, melon & gooseberry, with underlying tones of pineapple & passion fruit sustained on a fresh, crisp & well-balanced palate with prodigious length. Sauvignon Blanc is much loved for its freshness, mouth watering acidity & upfront fruit. Rustenberg makes a slightly fuller, richer style of Sauvignon Blanc without relying on the influence of oak. ...

The Syrah grapes were naturally fermented with aerated pump-overs, followed by 1 week extended maceration & Malolactic Fermentation (MLF) in oak barrels. Deep violet, inky hues characterise this wine. The aromas are initially savoury & meaty, developing into a very concentrated & complex perfume with prominent spicy notes of cloves, cinnamon & violets. The palate entry exhibits tremendous concentration of flavour & has gratifying length. Silver Medal
- Decanter World Wine Awards 2011.
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The wine shows typical Cabernet Sauvignon flavour & aroma profiles of dark berries & tobacco with a well-structured & lengthy palate. Can be aged up to 12 years from vintage under ideal cellaring conditions ...

Plum & cigar-box aromatics prelude a multi-layered palate with an elegant tannin structure. This Bordeaux blend typifies Rustenberg terroir & has good ageing potential, if cellared correctly. This wine is named for a former owner of Rustenberg, John Xavier Merriman, who bought the farm in 1892 in sympathy with farmers suffering from the phyloxera crisis. He played a great role in revitalizing Rustenberg & in promoting the tourism & agricultural value of Idas Valley, the area close to the town of Stellenbosch in which Rustenberg is situated. This Bordeaux blend typifies Rustenberg terroir & has good ageing potential, if cellared correctly for 10 -15 Years from vintage. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec. Limited Stock. ...

Although we had a dry winter, there was plenty of water available when required in the hot summer months to ensure that the vineyards matured naturally, without undue stress. The vineyards boasted perfect canopies, allowing optimum light penetration for the ripening of bunches & the development of good colour. During the harvest, perfect phenolic ripeness with soft, ripe tannins was achieved. The berries were of great quality & ideal colour, & came in at lovely low sugars due to cool conditions at harvest. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec. ...

Although we had a dry winter, there was plenty of water available when required in the hot summer months to ensure that the vineyards matured naturally, without undue stress. The vineyards boasted perfect canopies, allowing optimum light penetration for the ripening of bunches & the development of good colour. During the harvest, perfect phenolic ripeness with soft, ripe tannins was achieved. The berries were of great quality & ideal colour, & came in at lovely low sugars due to cool conditions at harvest. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec. ...

The John X Merriman is a powerful wine that rewards aging. In its youth the wine is worth decanting & expresses cassis, black currant & dark fruits complemented with cigar tobacco & sour cherrynotes. As the wine ages & its fine grained tannins soften a softer more savoury palate develops revealing wonderful drinkabilityand tertiary complexity. ...

Rich aromas of blackberries, cassis, eucalyptus & dark chocolate follow through to a smooth palate that is both balanced & well-rounded. This wine can be enjoyed now or will benefit from maturation in ideal cellar conditions. Maturation potential: 8
- 10 years from vintage. A cold, wet winter in 2009 allowed for the lovely, even budding of the vineyards during spring, & the warm, sunny days that followed in summer resulted in great flavour & colour development in the berries. Full fruit flavours & soft tannins, together with good aromatics & ideal acidity, made 2010 an excellent vintage.
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