Octavius, Isabella, and Koos tasting Bordeaux-style red blends — from Claret to Rubicon — a journey through history, grapes, and bold decisions.

Octavius

Octavius raises a glass to Château Marguax in Bordeaux, birthplace of the world’s great red blends.

Isabella

“And much of Bordeaux’s prestige came from its history with the British. From medieval times onwards, the English aristocracy prized these wines. ‘Claret,’ as they called Bordeaux reds, became a status symbol. Barrels were shipped from Bordeaux across the seas to the UK often bottled there or sold by London merchants. This created demand and fame — the château names built up partly because people trusted wine from those specific places.”

Koos

“Sounds fancy. But back home in South Africa in the 1970’s, blended reds used to be the cheap stuff. No rules, no grape names, just ‘Take this, mix that.’ Nothing to trust.”

Octavius

“That was exactly the problem. No standard of what “blend” meant. Until pioneers stepped in. One such name is Welgemeend — they put out one of the first commercial Bordeaux-style red blends in South Africa in the early 1980s. Sadly, Welgemeend is no longer around. But their early experiment laid the groundwork.”

Isabella

“And then there is Meerlust Rubicon — now an icon. The story goes: Nico Myburgh visited Bordeaux in 1967, was inspired by the terroir, soil and climate, and resolved to plant Bordeaux grapes — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc — back at home in Stellenbosch. Several years of trial and error followed. In 1980, after working with winemaker Giorgio Dalla Cia, he finalised the blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. It took until 1984 for Rubicon to be released to the public. That was South Africa’s Rubicon moment – once tasted, there was no turning back.”

Koos at Meerlust Estate with a glass of Rubicon, South Africa’s bold Bordeaux-style red blend.

Koos

“The name made it unforgettable. The story goes that when Julius Caesar marched his troops across the Rubicon River in 49 BC, he declared Alea Iacta Est — ‘The die is cast.’ By stepping into that shallow Italian river, he set in motion events that made turning back impossible. Since then, ‘crossing the Rubicon’ has meant reaching a decisive moment — a bold step forward where retreat is no longer an option. For Nico Myburgh, calling his new wine blend Rubicon carried the same weight: once the bottle was released, there was no going back to the old way of thinking about blends in South Africa.”

Octavius

“From that point on, Bordeaux-style blends flourished. Not just in Stellenbosch, but across South Africa. Grapes that once were rare here — Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc — became part of many top-tier blends. Globally too, every New World region took notes: Napa, Margaret River, Coonawarra, even emerging regions in South America.”

Isabella

“In some places, these wines are named by grape (e.g. ‘Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot’), in others by the producer’s name or a name that had meaning to the wine property (Rubicon, Paul Sauer, etc.), and others use terms like ‘Reserve’ or ‘Grand Reserve’ to indicate quality. Confusing sometimes, but once you know the pattern, it starts to make sense.”

Isabella toasts Opus One in Napa Valley, celebrating Bordeaux-style blends with her fiery spirit.

Koos

“What should consumers look for when ordering? If you see ‘Red Blend’ or ‘Bordeaux-style red blend’ on a wine list, chances are good it will have Cabernet and Merlot in it, maybe a bit of Cabernet Franc. If you see the varietals listed, perfect. If just the name of the estate, ask. If you’re in a good restaurant, ask the waiter and if you are splashing out in a fancy Joburg establishment ask the sommelier. ‘Do you have any local Bordeaux style red blends?’ Most often, you’ll get something you enjoy.”

Isabella

“Rubicon may be the story we know best here, but it’s not the only red blend. From Bordeaux to Stellenbosch to the Napa Valley, winemakers experiment with blends — sometimes leaning towards Cabernet, sometimes Merlot, sometimes daring. And Koos, your Rhône-style blends deserve their turn too. We’ll save those for another blog.”

---

Case Notes from Detective Pinot

• Blend rule basics: Two (or more) of the classic grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot) referred to as Bordeaux-style blends.
• Welgemeend: Early pioneer in SA, no longer operating.
• Meerlust Rubicon: The breakthrough blend from 1980, released 1984. 70% CS, 20% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc.
• Claret / London history: From the Middle Ages, English demand for Bordeaux reds (Claret) led to large imports by barrel. London merchants often bottled wine from Bordeaux casks domestically. This trade established the reputation of Château names.
• Future blends: Not all great reds are Bordeaux-style — Rhône blends, Cape blends, and others deserve their own spotlight. Stay tuned.