Rustenberg John X Merriman 1999

1999 was a warm vintage and the resulting ripeness is fully expressed in this wine. The spicy oak and ripe cassis, blackcurrant and cherry aromas are complemented by an approachable and seamless tannin structure.


variety : Merlot [ 64% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc ]
winery : Rustenberg Wines
winemaker : Adi Badenhorst
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 13.6 % vol  rs : 1.5 g/l  pH : 3.5  ta : 6 g/l  
type : Red  style : Dry   wooded
pack : Bottle  

AWARDS
The South African Trophy Wine Show 2002 - Bronze
First Class - South African Airways for 2002
Bordeaux Blend Reserve Club Winner - SA's Wine-of-the-Month Club 2002
89+ Points - Robert Parker's "Wine Advocate"
41/2 Stars - Wine Magazine SA (September 2001)
Silver - International Wine Challenge 2001
4 Stars - John Platter Wine Guide 2002
90 Points (Outstanding) - Review from March/April issue of Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
90 Points (Wine Spectator - May 2002)
Silver Medal (Mcdailles de Agent) - Concours du Mondial 2002

ageing : A complex, many-layered wine, which will repay maturation in cellar conditions for the next 8-12 years.

in the vineyard : Situation: South West slopes of the Simonsberg
Altitude: 300m
Distance from sea: approx. 25km
Soil Type: Hutton (Decomposed granite)
Rootstock: Richter 99 + 110
Ages of vines: 7-13 Years
Trellising: All vertically shoot positioned
Pruning: All 2 node spur pruning

about the harvest: The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvest the 2nd week of March 1999, and the Merlot was harvested the 4th week of February 1999.
Yield: 6.5 tons/hectare average

in the cellar : Closed tank fermentation with regular oxidative pumpovers. Malolactic fermentation in oak. Regular racking, no filtration, 20 months barrel maturation. (All French oak, 50% new). Oak used Nevers, Alliers and Troncais. The wine was bottled on the 13th November 2000.

find our wines in :

OTHER VINTAGES

Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Merlot
Merlot