Winemaker Notes
This wine is a Bordeaux-style blend, with all of the fruit coming from the Estate, and made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the greater of which depends on which varietal has a better showing over the other in any vintage. The John X Merriman is therefore a wonderful representation of the Estate, as well as the characteristics of a vintage.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec, the Rustenberg 2022 Simonsberg John X Merriman reveals excellent balance and results in an approachable style that is never too heavy. This estate blend checks all the boxes with dark fruit, spice and dried herb. Production is 147,000 bottles. The wine is fermented in stainless steel with four to five pump-overs per day. Once it is fermented to dryness and pressed, it goes into French oak for 20 months total.
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James Suckling
A dark-fruited red blend that has notes of blueberries, black plums, violets and black tea. It’s full-bodied, youthful and fresh, with chalky tannins. Cabernet sauvignon, merlot, malbec and petit verdot. Try from 2025.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.