Vilafonté new releases

The 2022 harvest for Paarl property Vilafonté was delayed, picking nine days later than normal. How has this impacted on the resulting wines? Both Series C and Series M don’t have quite the shape, form and intricacy of the outstanding 2021 vintage, but they are still very fine in the luxurious style that this house has always promoted. Tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Seriously Old Dirt 2022
Price: R265

W.O. Western Cape and billed as “regionally agnostic”. 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, the rest Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot. Fragrant aromatics of red berries, flowers, fynbos and a hint of earth. The palate is vibrant with juicy, clean fruit, fresh acidity and lightly grippy tannins. A very appealing “cross-over” wine which should appeal to novice and connoisseur alike. Alc: 13.5%

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Series C 2022
Price: R1,995

56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec. Matured for 22 months in barrel, 73% new. Black berries, violets, crushed herbs, incense, liquorice and pencil shavings on the nose. The palate is deep and textured – dense fruit, bright acidity and fine, tightly packed tannins. A sumptuous, polished wine but certainly not without structure. Alc: 14.5%

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Series M 2022
To be released in April.
40% Merlot, 39% Malbec, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc. Overtly perfumed with notes of red and black berries, violets and cocoa powder. The palate shows pure fruit and bright acidity while the tannins are fine and velvety, the finish nicely dry. Softer and not quite as rich as the Series C but perhaps more elegant. Alc: 14%. 

CE’s rating: 94/100.

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