Vergelegen V 2014

By , 26 August 2021

Comment

2

The ambitious “V” bottling from Somerset West property Vergelegen has always confounded – should it be big enough to go up against Napa or refined enough to be classically South African and perhaps comparable to “Claret”, whatever that might be?

The current-release 2014 (price: R1 450) is unusually medium-bodied and ready to drink. Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, it was matured for 18 months in French oak, 100% new. The nose is pleasing enough but there are some definite mature notes – malt, earth and undergrowth – and then there is also some pyrazine character (dried herbs, if we are being polite) to go with red and black berries oyster shell, cigar box and pencil shavings. The palate, meanwhile, is medium bodied, the fruit a bit depleted, smooth textured and yet the finish quite drying. Drink up.

CE’s rating: 90/100.

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Comments

2 comment(s)

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    Greg Sherwood MW | 29 August 2021

    Funny, I just tasted another ‘grand’ Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 last night, which I must say was lovely and accessible as well, but DID also have the ‘malt, earth and undergrowth’ notes along with subtle truffle oil notes. Undoubtedly signs of development, which is not necessarily a bad thing for a 7+ year old wine. I don’t have too many 2014s in my cellar but the ones I do have I certainly would make sure I didn’t forget about them there for too long before drinking (unlike the white 2014s of course that are going strong!)

    Billabong | 26 August 2021

    Drink up, would suggest that the current release of 2014 is about to start on the downward slope. There is something very wrong with that release strategy

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