Meerlust Estate Stellenbosch Pinot Noir 2009 92 Points

Meerlust Estate Stellenbosch Pinot Noir 2009 92 Points


Clear, bright, cherry red with slight mahogany rim, medium concentration with good translucency for a SA Pinot Noir! medium plus viscosity, no gas or sediment.

Clean with medium intensity, ripe cherries, cranberries, sundried strawberry petal, boiled beetroot, earthy forest floor note, Portabellini mushroom dust, gamey (Not bretty) and meaty in profile, fragrant oak, but very well managed, complex.

Dry, medium acidity, medium plus alcohol!, low plus tannins, new savoty flavors of mushrooms medley, kirsch, boiled beetroot follows through, earthy, complex and lingering with medium plus lenght and medium plus complexity.

This is one wine in the Meerlust stables, which I personally believe is the most consistent vintages upon vintages, my tasting notes goes back to 2001, anything prior only in my memory! Far more deliver in quality than their Rubicon Bordeaux Style blends (yes the 2001 Rubicon is stuff of legends!!, but other vintages?)

Meerlust Estate Pinot Noir hallmark is it's fresh, vibrant, with just the right tannic grip, dry and textured, without a doubt by far Stellenbosch district most consistent, and finest example (second choice is Vriesenhof.....) and will rival or even outperformed other SA Pinot on a good day............. excellent value if one have to compare with the Rubicon.

So can it be "placed" somewhere in Burgundy as a style? Closest because of the color, perfume and layered complexity will be a Marange AOP!

Seek it out on a wine lists when dining out, you cannot be disappointed and yet many consumers first choice when choosing a Meerlust wine is Rubicon!!
(Rubicon is a very well made Bordeaux style blend, but too often lack the X factor, to be exciting!)

If poured under South African climatic condition, served at 13 degrees celsius, from the bottle and paired with Pan fried sesame coated albacore / yellowfin tuna steak (March & April is the prime season in SA) served rare, micro greens, Ponzu, white wine vinegar and Dijon mustard dressings.

Now until 2021 if cellared under the optimum conditions.