South Africa’s Meerlust Rubicon 1999 has been hailed as the best new world red wine in the March edition of well regarded US wine magazine Decanter, according to industry website winenews.co.za.
Of the wine, Steven Spurrier, consultant editor of Decanter Wine magazine,
acknowledged as one of the “best shoes in the wine business” after 40 years in the industry, commented: “Hannes Myburgh’s Bordeaux blend, Rubicon, maintains its position as one of the Cape’s greatest reds with this superb 1999.
“Densely young in colour, with ripeness, depth of vineyard character and harmonious confidence for the future, claret lovers should not miss this. Drink from 2005 -2015.”
Spurrier’s choice of Rubicon 1999 follows his selection in February 2003 of Meerlust Chardonnay 1998 as best new world white.
“Chardonnay has long been the passion of Giorgio Dalla Cia, winemaker for Hannes Myburgh at Meerlust, and their 1998 has achieved their aim to make a truly Montrachet-style wine from the now mature vineyards. Richly flavoured with a minerally backbone to save it from lushness, this is probably South Africa’s finest Chardonnay. To drink or keep,” said Spurrier.
Hannes Myburgh, owner of the Meerlust Estate in Stellenbosch, added: “This is a great honour for South Africa, particularly when one considers the high levels of competition in the marketplace. We are very proud to receive recognition of this calibre from one of the world’s best wine magazines consecutively over a two-year period.” – I-Net Bridge