Rustenberg Wines

John X Merriman 2010

South Africa, Stellenbosch

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc

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Description

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

Awards

Gold Veritas

Silver International Wine Challenge (IWC)

Silver International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC)

90 pts Wine Spectator Points

2013 Top 100 South African Wine Awards - Top 100 SA Wine

2013 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate - 92 points

Alcohol

14.5%

Analytical data

dry

1.8 g/l residual sugar

6.5 g/l acidity

3.6 pH

Vineyard

Vine density: 1080

Yield: 21 hl/ha

Soil Type

Decomposed granite

Winemaker

Randolph Christians

Viticulture

VSP (Vertical Shoot Positioned), 2 Node Spur Pruned, minimal drip irrigation

Vinification

Grapes were hand-picked and crushed and de-stemmed on arriving at the winery. Fermentation took place in stainless steel tanks with regular pump overs and an extended maceration of up to seven days. After primary fermentation the wine was transferred to oak barriques (35% new French; 65% second- and third-fill) for 20 months’ maturation.