2020 Rustenberg RM Nicholson Cabernet Merlot, Stellenbosch

Blackcurrant aromas are complemented by scents of dried herbs and notes of black pepper and spice, followed by serious structure from the Bordeaux varieties and finishing off with softness from the Shiraz.

The name for this wine comes from a former owner-winemaker of the estate, the charismatic Reginald Merriman Nicholson. Reg Nicholson lived and worked on the farm for 30 years and was the creator of Rustenberg’s famous “Dry Red” wine.

Just as the Dry Red was an unconventional blend, the RM Nicholson is a new world style blend of classic varieties that would typically not be combined. The result is a blend of Bordeaux and Rhone varietals aiming to express the typicity of each vintage, unrestrained by convention to create a great wine.

The Rustenberg Estate was founded in 1682 and is nestled in the valley of the Simonsberg Mountain in South Africa’s premium wine region Stellenbosch. Rustenberg’s rich heritage and ethos has been informed by many centuries of human influence striving to understand and work with nature to produce wines of distinct character true to their terroir variety and informed style.