Meerlust Merlot 2023
In stock
Purchase this item and get 295 PointsKShs6,835 incl. of VAT
Tasting Notes
Deep ruby red. The nose shows ripe black plum and dark cherry, with dried herbs and a floral lift, and a subtle leafy edge sits behind the berry fruit. Dark chocolate and oak spice run underneath. On the palate a concentrated core of dark fruit meets lifted acidity, with ripe cherry and plum carrying through. The finish stays delicate and the fruit stays pure. The estate expects the tannins to gain suppleness with age.
Food Pairing
Medium to full body, lifted acidity and fine tannins suit red meat. Beef fillet, roast lamb and slow cooked beef are the strongest matches, and the dried herbs in the wine suit rosemary or thyme in the cooking. Mushroom dishes also work. The acidity cuts through fat, so grilled ribs and chops sit well beside it. For a Nairobi nyama choma lunch where the beef or lamb is the centre of the table, this is a Merlot that keeps up.
What You Need to Know:
What does Meerlust Merlot taste like?
Ripe black plum and dark cherry, with dried herbs and a floral lift. Dark chocolate and oak spice sit underneath.
Is it dry?
It is dry, with 2.2 g per litre of residual sugar. The plum and cherry read as fruit, not sweetness.
How is it different from Meerlust Rubicon?
The Rubicon blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is 100% Merlot, aged 18 months in French oak.
How long can I keep it?
The estate puts its ageing potential at 10 to 15 years in ideal cellar conditions. It can also be opened now with some air.
What food goes best with this wine?
Beef fillet, roast lamb and slow cooked beef are the strongest matches. Rosemary or thyme in the cooking suits the dried herbs in the wine.
What should I do if this bottle is out of stock?
Our customer service team can help you find a suitable alternative or source the product where possible.
Can I get Meerlust Merlot delivered same day in Nairobi?
Nairobi orders placed before 9 PM qualify for same-day delivery, typically completed within a 1-hour window. Free delivery applies to orders above KES 3,000 within Nairobi. Orders outside Nairobi are delivered nationwide across Kenya within 24 to 48 hours.
Description
Single variety Stellenbosch Merlot from separately fermented parcels, 18 months in French oak. Order online in Nairobi through The Wine Box Kenya.
This Merlot is built from several separate parcels. Each one is fermented on its own, and malolactic fermentation takes place in 300 litre barrels. After six months the best components are chosen and blended, and the wine goes back to barrel for another twelve, in 40% new French oak.
The 2023 season helped. Flavours developed quickly, and most of the estate’s vineyards were picked before the heavy rains arrived. Meerlust describes the result as bright, flavourful wines with good extraction and balanced acidity. Jamie Goode scored this wine 93 out of 100 in March 2026, calling it floral and bright, with a subtle leafy edge to the berry fruit.
It finishes dry, at 2.2 g/L of residual sugar. For a Nairobi buyer who wants a Merlot with structure and a decade of life ahead, this is a good place to start. Best suited to red meat dinners and to anyone who likes Merlot with a fresh acid line rather than a soft, sweet one.
Product Facts
- Vintage: 2023
- Producer: Meerlust Estate
- Country: South Africa
- Region / Appellation: Stellenbosch, Western Cape
- Grape Variety: Merlot 100%
- Category: Red Wine
- Style: Medium to full bodied red
- ABV: 14.5%
- Residual Sugar: 2.2 g/L
- Total Acidity: 5.6 g/L
- Production Method: Several parcels fermented separately; malolactic fermentation in 300 litre barrels; best components blended after 6 months, then 12 more months in French oak, 40% new
- Farming Certification: Vegan
- Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
- Drink: Producer ageing potential of 10 to 15 years in ideal cellar conditions
Accolades
Tim Atkin (MW): 94 points
Platter’s Wine Guide: 4.5 Stars.
Jancis Robinson : Score of 16.5 / 20
About The Winery
The Myburgh family has farmed Meerlust in Stellenbosch since 1756, and the estate is now in its eighth generation under Hannes Myburgh. Its 1776 Cape Dutch cellar still stands at the centre of the farm. In 1980 Meerlust made South Africa’s first Bordeaux style blend, Rubicon, which set the direction for the estate. Altus Treurnicht now leads winemaking, after Chris Williams ran the cellar for sixteen years. The wines are available through The Wine Box in Kenya.
We provide FREE DELIVERY for orders above Kshs. 3,000 within Nairobi. Orders outside of Nairobi will attract delivery charges, which will be calculated based on the cart size and your location. Orders outside of Nairobi are delivered through a logistics partner Fargo Courier.
We deliver anywhere* in Kenya and Orders outside of Nairobi will attract delivery charges, which will be calculated based on the cart size and your location. Orders outside of Nairobi are delivered through a logistics partner Fargo Courier.
*Please note that conditions apply to deliveries to Lamu and some coastal regions.
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