Rustenberg, John X Merriman, Stellenbosch

Rustenberg · Coastal Region › Stellenbosch › South Africa

Red · Red Bordeaux Blend
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LWIN 1140307
Critics Average score from professional wine critics and publications.
90 /100
Reviews
23
professional

Vintages

No vintages

No vintage-specific entries have been added for this wine.

NV

Community Reviews

25
25
Reviews
90.4
Avg Score
93
Highest
Taster #5175 · Jun 13, 2021
90/100
Stelvin closure has kept this still very youthful, belying its 14years age Bordeaux-y but with all the dials turned up to max. This is powerful and concentrated and even with 2 days opened its still intense
2007 vintage
Taster #1597 · Aug 15, 2020
91/100
Still very primary after almost 15 years. Nose is new leather, ripe cherries and gravel. Palate is more of the same with grape leaf, plums, black cherry, and more new leather. Lucious with a fatty strip steak; also pretty delicious on its own. Good now but will be fine for another 5-10 years too.
2007 vintage
Taster #7424 · Jul 5, 2020
91/100
Definitely improved from many years ago. Very Bordeaux like with plum, earth, and tobacco. Great dusty texture. A real bargain.
2007 vintage
Taster #9284 · Nov 2, 2018
92/100
Very dark and dense. Powerful wine. Bordeaux minus the elegance but twice the concentration. Intriguing olive brine nuance on the palate. Much more in the savory spectrum than fruit. However the fruit is imposing and serious and dry. Drinks OK day two, perhaps a bit more astringent. I see no reason this shouldn’t hold and evolve another 5+ years.
2007 vintage
Taster #3097 · Aug 10, 2017
89/100
Tasted blind: Heavy green pepper delightful nose. Acidity comes through in the finish - Italian like but the body carries through. Teetering on 90 965676
2007 vintage
Taster #8439 · Aug 5, 2017
89/100
Third of the blinds. Medium to deep mix of garnet and ruby red. Definitely showing it's age on the nose with bell peppers, tomato, chalk and some cinnamon with air. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) that are rounded and well integrated. Layered palate with red berries, gravel, cedar, cassis, herbaceous notes and eucalyptus. Seemed a touch younger on the palate. Medium bodied with a very dry and long finish. Drink till 2020.
2007 vintage
Taster #5175 · Jul 29, 2017
90/100
10 years from vintage and still maintaining strong mint, cassis and cedar flavors. Tannins have softened a bit but still sufficient to indicate further aging potential.
2007 vintage
Taster #1222 · Oct 12, 2015
92/100
Drinking well.
2007 vintage
Taster #2012 · May 3, 2015
92/100
Fantastic nose. Pine and a touch of barnyard. Drinking very well now.
2007 vintage
Taster #5957 · Apr 9, 2015
90/100
Wow - 4 years since I drank my other bottle. This is much smoother now, though not quite as vibrant on the palate. On opening, was like a mature new word red - dense, and a nose of engine oil. With air, it became more elegant, some red fruits, and fine minerality. The green notes from 4 years ago are no longer present. There are more tertiary aromas, plenty of leather and a noticeably a long finish laced with chalk …
2007 vintage
Taster #7964 · Jul 30, 2014
91/100
Nice, new world , bordeaux blend. Obviously big fruit , ahead of earth. Not much complexity, or layers, but nicely put together, and very enjoyable.
2007 vintage
Taster #7838 · Jun 24, 2014
90/100
PnP. Consistent with my earlier note. Actually, I was about to use the very same words. I should have read my own note instead of relying on the drinking window. This wine will mature for at least 3 to 4 more years. Very nice wine, but not quite like anything else I usually drink.
2007 vintage
Taster #2078 · May 17, 2014
89/100
green pepper, bit of spice
2007 vintage
Taster #8106 · Dec 30, 2013
91/100
Classic bordeaux
2007 vintage
Taster #7838 · Nov 23, 2013
90/100
Decanted thru aerator and started drinking after 20 minutes. Cherry red, medium density (almost looked like a Pinot, but a little denser). Strong cherry flavors, but very tart. Almost sour. Interesting wine. Will wait a few years before trying the other bottle.
2007 vintage
Taster #7838 · Nov 22, 2013
90/100
Decanted thru aerator and started drinking after 20 minutes. Cherry red, medium density (almost looked like a Pinot, but a little denser). Strong cherry flavors, but very tart. Almost sour. Interesting wine. Will wait a few years before trying the other bottle.
2007 vintage
Taster #4305 · Oct 7, 2013
91/100
A great overachiever for the price. A melange of bell pepper, green tobacco leaf, gravelly mineral and medium purple berry fruit. Combines great elements of old world and new world into a traditional package.
2007 vintage
Taster #1222 · Sep 28, 2013
90/100
Needs time to open. Nicely balanced.
2007 vintage
Taster #8755 · Aug 28, 2013
91/100
Great South African wine. This is an excellent Bordeaux style blend. Medium-full bodied, earthy, yet fruity. Wish i had more.
2007 vintage
Taster #8755 · Feb 16, 2013
93/100
Great QPR. Full bodied, long finish, but needs to be decanted for at least 2 hours if drinking now.
2007 vintage
Taster #7182 · Dec 22, 2012
89/100
Really nice with a dark and jammy fruit aspect over a soft merlot-like profile.
2007 vintage
Taster #0441 · Aug 18, 2012
This is defintely tasting better than the last bottle. Maybe itwas flawed?eitherway i was much happier with how this tastes.
2007 vintage
Taster #1373 · Jul 12, 2012
90/100
Good fruit forward nose and great color. Opens up pretty nicely, a bit tart and more old world bordeaux than the Cali blends I'm used to drinking.
2007 vintage
Taster #7424 · May 27, 2012
89/100
Notes after being open overnight and stored under vacuum. Old world nose of earthy tobacco and plums. Bright berry and plum fruit flavors with a pleasant and slightly gritty texture. Very good QPR at ~ $25USD
2007 vintage
Taster #1716 · May 9, 2012
Almost drinkable but slightly oxidized.
2007 vintage