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From the Winemakers' Website: This wine is named after a former owner of Rustenberg, John Xavier Merriman, who bought the farm in 1892 in sympathy with farmers suffering from the phylloxera crisis. He played a great role in revitalizing Rustenberg & in promoting the tourism & agricultural value of Ida’s Valley, the area close to the town of Stellenbosch in which Rustenberg is situated. The John X Merriman is Rustenberg's Estate wine, a blend of Bordeaux varietals that illustrate the ageability & true expression of Rustenberg's finest vineyards. VINTAGE: The vineyards emerged from a deep, long dormancy after the wet & cold Winter of 2013 into ideal spring conditions resulting in high cropping levels across all varieties. The summer of 2014 was cool with no major heatwaves & intermittent rain resulting in the production of lower alcohol white wines that enjoyed a longer than usual ripening period, while the reds from this vintage display restraint & finesse. Tasting Notes: A powerful wine that rewards aging. In its youth the wine is worth decanting & expresses cassis, black currant & dark fruits complemented with cigar tobacco & sour cherry notes. As the wine ages & its fine grained tannins soften a softer more savoury palate develops revealing wonderful drinkability & tertiary complexity.