Rustenberg John X Merriman 2024 is a classic Stellenbosch red blend built from Bordeaux varieties and shaped in a more traditional, cellar-worthy style. It is a wine that leans on structure, dark fruit, and savory detail rather than overt ripeness, reflecting both the pedigree of the estate and the strengths of Stellenbosch as a home for serious red blends. For drinkers who appreciate balance, depth, and a more composed expression of South African red wine, this is a strong example.
The nose opens with cassis, blackcurrant, and dark plum, followed by notes of cigar tobacco, sour cherry, and subtle oak spice. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied but measured, with enough freshness to keep the fruit and oak in line. The tannins give the wine shape and longevity, while the finish stays long, steady, and quietly refined rather than heavy. It would pair especially well with roast lamb, beef fillet, venison, or slow-cooked braises, where its dark fruit, savory notes, and structure can settle naturally into the dish.
Still youthful, this is a wine that should benefit from decanting now and continue to develop well over the coming years as its fruit, tannin, and oak knit more fully together.
The nose opens with cassis, blackcurrant, and dark plum, followed by notes of cigar tobacco, sour cherry, and subtle oak spice. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied but measured, with enough freshness to keep the fruit and oak in line. The tannins give the wine shape and longevity, while the finish stays long, steady, and quietly refined rather than heavy. It would pair especially well with roast lamb, beef fillet, venison, or slow-cooked braises, where its dark fruit, savory notes, and structure can settle naturally into the dish.
Still youthful, this is a wine that should benefit from decanting now and continue to develop well over the coming years as its fruit, tannin, and oak knit more fully together.
The 2022 vintage required patience and careful timing, with a cool, late spring followed by mid-summer heatwaves that slowed tannin ripening but ultimately allowed it to develop well. The fruit was crushed and destemmed, then fermented in stainless steel with gentle pump-overs to manage extraction.
After extended maceration, the wine was matured for 20 months in French oak, 35% of it new, to build structure and depth. Egg white fining was used to refine the texture while preserving the wine’s purity and balance.
Winemaker: Randolph Christians
After extended maceration, the wine was matured for 20 months in French oak, 35% of it new, to build structure and depth. Egg white fining was used to refine the texture while preserving the wine’s purity and balance.
Winemaker: Randolph Christians
Founded in 1682 and nestled in the valley of the Simonsberg in South Africa’s premium wine region, Stellenbosch. Rustenberg’s rich heritage and ethos has been informed by many centuries of human influence striving to understand and work with nature to produce wines of distinct character true to their terrior, variety and informed style.
