{"product_id":"meerlust-rubicon-2023","title":"Meerlust Rubicon 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eMeerlust Rubicon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRegion: Stellenbosch, South Africa\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVintage: 2023\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBottle size: 75cl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrape: \u003cspan\u003eCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eABV: 14%\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVery deep, youthful colour, and intense almost purple hue. Quintessential Rubicon nose with violets, ripe plum, cedar wood, fennel and intense spiciness. A typical liquorice note also evident on the nose. Still young and intense, promising further maturation potential. The palate is full bodied, structured but packed with fresh dark fruit and rounded, linear tannins promising long beneficial maturation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eA watershed event occurred in the life of Nico Myburgh, father of the current custodian of Meerlust, Hannes Myburgh. Holidaying in Bordeaux, he discovered that the terroir in this area of France was similar to that of the Eerste River Valley. Both have a distinctive climate, characterised by a cooling sea breeze. And both have a soil structure made up of decomposed granite and clay. The red wines produced by the two regions, however, were very different. Unlike the Western Cape's specified cultivars, Bordeaux thrived on producing blends. Nico returned to Meerlust, filled with inspiration and the desire to create a blend of his own that would match those of the French. In 1980, after several years of experimentation together with winemaker Giorgio Dalla Cia, he announced the birth of the new blend. With proportions of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, a new style of wine had been created in South Africa. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ehttp:\/\/www.meerlust.co.za\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"London End Wines","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":65186071675257,"sku":"2095723","price":34.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0506\/5405\/2509\/products\/MeerlustRubiconbordeauxsouthafricacapecabernetsuavignonmerlotbigredwinelondonendwinesbeaconsfield_68938524-1038-4083-b337-7b95e3b1a864.png?v=1678881413","url":"https:\/\/www.londonendwines.com\/products\/meerlust-rubicon-2023","provider":"London End Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}