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Anyone know Meerendal Cabochon 1999? 16 October 2006

From Bennie Bergmann:
We opened a bottle of Meerendal Cabochon 1999 after dinner and found it drinkable. Surprised to find it got a two star rating only. Do you know the blend?

Response from Tim James: I don’t know this wine – which these days is now renamed Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot in the Meerendal list, reflecting its blend. The 99, at least, was pretty equally of those two grapes. Interestingly, someone called David mentioned it (not this particular vintage) on this website as as a particular UNfavourite…. But in fact the Platter guide rated the 1999 very highly: Dave Hughes gave it four-and-a half stars (his ratings in those days were considered to be often particularly generous, it should be said). Presumably the rating that Bennie is quoting is is Wine magazine’s? Anyone else got any particular views on the wine?

From Liza Goodwin, cellarmaster of Meerendal:
I was involved with the making of the 1999 Cabochon. Cabochon is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot. The blend was matured on second fill small French oak barrels for 12 months. After Meerendal Wine Estate was bought by a consortium of businessmen in 2004, it was decided to discontinue the use of the name Cabochon and it was replaced with the Meerendal Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot blend, a much easier recognizable name. The blend however is the same.
 
 

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