Rustenberg John X Merriman is a Bordeaux-style red blend produced by Rustenberg Wines, one of the oldest and most reputable wine estates in South Africa's Stellenbosch region. The blend comprises primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Rustenberg John X Merriman features a deep, dark ruby color, and a complex bouquet of black cherries, cassis, smoked meat and oak. On the palate, it is full-bodied with firm tannins and a long, smooth finish complemented by notes of spices such as cinnamon and cloves. It ages well and can be enjoyed with hearty meat dishes or aged cheeses. The wine is named after John Xavier Merriman, a prominent lawyer, politician and farmer who once owned the Rustenberg estate.

Tasting Notes

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

About the Winery

The history of Rustenberg dates back to 1682. At that time, Roelof Pasman of Meurs recognised the potential of grapevine cultivation and wine production the place held. By 1781, he saw to it that about 3000 wine cases got created at the farm. The rate doubled as the century progressed towards its end. It compelled the winery to build a cellar. The produced wines have been bottled here for a continuous period ever since 1892.

The estate of Rustenberg got divided by Jacob Eksteen, the owner in the early years of the 1800s. He assigned a section of it to his son-in-law. The separated half got sold under the name of Schoongezicht, and both wineries reached their peak at around 1812. They housed flourishing vineyards and ecstatic homesteads. However, the recession and diseases plaguing the land during the mid-century brought dispossession and bankruptcy to Schoongezicht and Rustenberg.

John X Merriman and Sir Jacob Barry, his brother-in-law, rescued Schoongezicht and Rustenberg, respectively, in 1892. They put their efforts together to revitalise the lands. In 1941, Pamela and Peter Barlow purchased Rustenberg and later Schoongezicht. It led to the two sections of the property reuniting. Simon, their son, took over the estate’s management in 1987. In 2012, Murray, Simon’s son, joined in. Now, for more than 75 years, the Barlows have been in charge of Rustenberg.

The vineyards owned by Rustenberg sit atop Simonsberg’s red slopes. They enjoy the perfect climatic and environmental conditions required for the optimal growth and development of the grapevines. The workers here work exceedingly hard to rejuvenate the land and cultivate virus-free plants from France. Rustenberg ensures excellence and quality in both their grapes and the wines produced from them from the first drop to the last one with the help of a skilled and dedicated team.

http://www.rustenberg.co.za

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