05/04/2026
This month I am excited to feature the John X Merriman Bordeaux-style blend from the Rustenberg winery in Stellenbosch, South Africa. This is a limited allocated wine and I was only able to get 23 bottles, so this is a one of a kind opportunity until the next vintage is released. The wine is $38 per bottle. Please call the shop at 402-705-0090 to reserve your bottle.
Rustenberg winery is one of the most historic and respected estates in the South Africas's Stellenbosch region. Named after John Xavier Merriman, a former owner of Rustenberg in the late 1800s, this wine reflects both the estate's heritage and the strength of Stellenbosch as a world-class region for Bordeaux varietals.
Rustenberg winery dates all the way back to 1682, making it one of the Cape's oldest wine estates. Situated on the slopes of the Simonsberg mountain, the winery is known for producing structured, age worthy wines with a strong sense of place, combining old world elegance with new world fruit intensity.
John X Merriman Bordeaux-style blend is a blend that is dominated with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and will have smaller amounts of Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. All these varietals contribute to its richness, polish, depth and complexity. This is a bold, cellar-worthy red wine with layers of dark fruit, to***co, cedar and savory spice making it an amazing alternative to a "Left Bank" French Bordeaux at a much more approachable price.
On the nose of this bold beauty you will get cassis, black currant, ripe plum, cigar box, cedar, graphite and to***co leaf with very subtle hints of mocha and dried herbs. On the palate the full bodied wine has blackberry, black cherry, black plum and currant fruits layered over expresso, baking spice and savory to***co. You will get some fine grained tannins making your mouth feel slightly scratchy for a moment before the bright acidity washes them away. The finish is long and lingering with dark fruits, cedar, cocoa and earthy spice. This wine is ready to be enjoyed today, or can be aged for 10 or more years. If you enjoy Napa Cabernet Sauvignons, Bordeaux blends or Super Tuscans from Italy this will be perfect for you!
To reserve your bottle call the shop at 402-705-0090. The cost per bottle is $38 each. Please keep in mind that we will only get 23 bottles allocated to us so these will go fast!
The featured cheese to pair with the John X Merriman is Comte. This delicious French beauty is an Alpine-style cheese that is nutty and bold and perfect to stand up to the cigar and cedar notes of the wine. Comte is also perfect for cooking. It has a very low melting point creating decadent grilled cheese sandwiches, mac and cheese or mouthwatering lasagna (yes, substitute the mozzarella for comte!). We have plenty of Comte in stock to buy when picking up the wine.