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Meerlust Chardonnay is widely regarded as one of the finest South African Chardonnays produced. This wine draws its character from two distinctive terroirs on the Meerlust Estate, 15 kilometres south of Stellenbosch and five kilometres from the cooling influence of False Bay.
Made by winemaker Altus Treurnicht at one of the Cape’s most historic and consistently celebrated estates, the 2024 combines vibrant citrus and stone fruit with the textural complexity of barrel fermentation and lees ageing – a Chardonnay that holds its own against serious white Burgundy at a fraction of the price. Buy Meerlust Chardonnay at Fareham Wine Cellar for UK delivery or in-store collection from our shop on Fareham High Street.
The Chardonnay for this wine is drawn from two of Meerlust’s four distinctive vineyard blocks, each contributing something different to the final blend:
Kompagniesdrift – the warm, north-facing slope at the highest point of the estate, with soils of weathered granite providing coarse, gravelly texture and sufficient depth for even ripening. Cool nights and afternoon sea breezes from False Bay give the fruit from this block its structure and aromatic character.
Quarry – a cool, windswept foot slope of rugged greywacke mixed with interbedded shales. The shallow-rooted vines planted here produce fruit with vibrant citrus notes, exceptional length, and a precise, mineral character that gives the final blend its focus and freshness.
Meerlust consists of 110 hectares of vineyards located 15 kilometres south of Stellenbosch and just five kilometres from False Bay. The estate’s position is close to ideal for the production of complex, characterful wines – cooling ocean breezes and evening mists allow the grapes to ripen slowly, developing full varietal character without losing freshness or acidity. The soils – deep, well-draining Hutton and Clovelly types composed of decomposing granite and clay – are comparable to those of Bordeaux, offering the vines excellent drought resistance and the conditions for concentrated, structured wines.
Meerlust Estate is one of the great historic names of South African wine. The Myburgh family have been making wine on this land for eight consecutive generations since 1756, making it one of the Cape’s oldest continuously family-owned estates. Owner Hannes Myburgh, who studied winemaking at Geisenheim in Germany and Château Lafite in Bordeaux, has continued and extended the estate’s extraordinary record of quality.
The modern era began in 1975 when Hannes’ father, Nico, produced a Cabernet Sauvignon that won the overall trophy at the South African Championship Wine Show. It was followed in 1984 by the release of the 1980 vintage of Meerlust Rubicon, the Cape’s most celebrated Bordeaux-style blend and the wine that established Meerlust’s international reputation. Altus Treurnicht, who joined the cellar in 2018, continues that tradition of precision and restraint across the entire range, including the Meerlust Pinot Noir and Meerlust Merlot.
Bright pale gold in the glass with a vivacious green hue. The nose is complex and immediately appealing – apricot, peach, and lemon zest lead, with hints of toasted almond and a subtle floral lift. On the palate, the wine is well-structured and linear, with focused stone fruit, sleek, balanced acidity, and a creamy texture from the lees ageing. The finish is long, mineral, and remarkably fresh – a wine with both the presence to accompany serious food and the precision to reward careful attention in the glass.
Enjoy with grilled fish, white meat and poultry. Try with summer salads and hard mature cheeses.
Yes, and that is why it has such a devoted following among serious wine lovers. The combination of wild ferment, French oak ageing, and the cool maritime influence of False Bay produces a South African Chardonnay with the mineral precision and structural complexity of a quality Côte de Beaune, at a considerably more appealing price point.
Its rich structure and creamy, textured palate make it an ideal partner for grilled lobster, scallops, and sea bass, as well as roast chicken, creamy pasta, mushroom risotto, and mature soft cheeses. Serve at 10–12°C in a generous white wine glass to let the complex aromatics open up.
It is delightfully approachable upon release, but its bright natural acidity and balanced oak give it the foundation to evolve gracefully in the cellar for 5 to 8 years, developing deeper nutty and honeyed complexity.
Meerlust Rubicon is the estate’s iconic flagship Bordeaux-style red blend, first crafted in 1980 and celebrated worldwide. The Chardonnay is the estate’s sole white wine—a benchmark expression produced with the same relentless commitment to classic Burgundian finesse.
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