Engen Cellar Collection
Timed Online Auction, 17 - 29 September 2025
Session 1
About this Item
This wine has been checked and re-corked by Amorim, under the protection of an argon gas blanket, with each opened bottle being topped up with reserve wine from the same vintage, recorked, and resealed. This was done under the supervision of a technical team from Amorim Corks and Strauss & Co Fine wine Specialists Higgo Jacobs and Roland Peens, assuring provenance, quality and long life. The Seal Code on the neck of the bottle can be traced on Amorim Recorking Directory
1980 was a significant year for Meerlust as the estate swept the boards at the annual South African Championship Wine Show in every category it entered: champion red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon), champion new variety (Cabernet Franc) and champion winemaker and champion wine producer. 1980 also saw the birth of the Meerlust Rubicon.
Provenance
Engen Private Collection
Critics Ratings
'It's a savoury and earthy expression, opening to more fruit purity with air. A slightly baked character is well balanced by the dark fruit, dense tannins and good freshness. A little rustic but long and textured. Drink over the next decade maybe two.' - Roland Peens 93/100, (July 2025)
'Classic cabernet, rich and deep, mineral black fruit. Slight reduction, blowing within a few minutes to reveal good cabernet purity. Composed, structured palate with fine and powerful tannins. Great colour, freshness and good length. The surprise of the tasting 94 points, drink to 2035.' - Roland Peens (Feb 2021), 94/100.
'Dark colour for its age is a precursor for more brooding dark fruits found on the 1980. Bramble, cassis, dark chocolate. 60% new oak playing good supporting role here, providing structure and a layer of polish. Wonderful harmony, drinking beautifully.' - Higgo Jacobs (Feb 2021), 94/100
More from Engen Cellar Collection
