The 1,200-hectare Rustenberg farm nestles at the foot of the majestic Simonsberg Mountain
O
riginally granted in 1682 to a German settler, Rustenberg farm was bought by Peter and Pamela Barlow in 1941. Uninterrupted wine records started in 1892, and for many years this 1,200-hectare property produced roughly 120,000 bottles annually from mainly red Bordeaux grape varieties, cultivated in the rich Stellenbosch soils at the foot of the majestic Simonsberg Mountain. The force behind the 21st century renewal is Simon Barlow, son of Peter and Pamela. Simon considers himself to be a custodian of the farm and is driven by his vision of “absolute passion and total dedication to quality in both the vineyard and cellar.”
The Wines
The Rustic Charm and Sophisticated Flavors of
Rustenberg 34
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EXPERIENCE Travel and Living Volume 8 • Number 2 • 2012
The vineyard is 125 hectares with grape cultivars such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Roussanne and Semillon. Rustenberg was the first winery to vinify and bottle Roussanne in South Africa. The Rustenberg Stellenbosch Roussanne has initial flinty aromas followed with poached pear and ginger spice, and an intense and broad palate structure with a savoury finish. In the Rustenberg Stellenbosch Chardonnay, apricot and orange peel aromas are followed by flavors of almond and marzipan. An elegant wine with a well-balanced palate, it is matured in Burgundian oak barrels for twelve months. The Rustenberg Five Soldiers is a chardonnay redolent of flint, peach, lime and a hint of nuts, with an unmatched