Vergelegen V 2014

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.

Buy from PORT2PORT

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