4666
Grape Variety
Merlot
Producer
Vilafonte Series M Paarl
Twenty-two months in new French oak barriques has imbued the Series M 2020 with a beautiful range of black fruit aromas including blackberry, cassis, cherry and plum allied to barrel-maturation notes of cedar, pencil shavings and clove. The blend is Merlot (43%), Malbec (37%), Cabernet Sauvignon (14%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) and they work together like a proverbial team of cart horses, raising the roof on a mesmeric palate with masses of fruit supported by oak, lively acidity and grippy tannins. This is many years off its peak but it's already delivering much to enjoy. My God, this is good! 2026 – 2030–MP
Vilafonte Series C, Paarl
The product of a difficult (Covid-ridden) vintage that was long and cool, the vines clearly never received the instructions to WFH. 22 months in 2/3 new French oak barrique has lent a patina of whimsical vanilla and spice to a nose oozing blackberry, cassis, cherry and plum. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend (58%) with Merlot (24%), Malbec (10%) and CF (8%) rounding things out. It’s all deftly handled and the exceptional hang time has resulted in a long, taut palate with the first whiff of tertiary notes including forest floor and tobacco alongside vanilla, cedar, and cooked fruit. The 2020 Series C has impeccable balance with ripe and refined tannins, integrated acidity, and layers of finely sculpted black fruit. This is miles off its peak. 2028 – 2032–MP
Twenty-two months in new French oak barriques has imbued the Series M 2020 with a beautiful range of black fruit aromas including blackberry, cassis, cherry and plum allied to barrel-maturation notes of cedar, pencil shavings and clove. The blend is Merlot (43%), Malbec (37%), Cabernet Sauvignon (14%) and Cabernet Franc (6%) and they work together like a proverbial team of cart horses, raising the roof on a mesmeric palate with masses of fruit supported by oak, lively acidity and grippy tannins. This is many years off its peak but it's already delivering much to enjoy. My God, this is good! 2026 – 2030–MP
The product of a difficult (Covid-ridden) vintage that was long and cool, the vines clearly never received the instructions to WFH. 22 months in 2/3 new French oak barrique has lent a patina of whimsical vanilla and spice to a nose oozing blackberry, cassis, cherry and plum. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the blend (58%) with Merlot (24%), Malbec (10%) and CF (8%) rounding things out. It’s all deftly handled and the exceptional hang time has resulted in a long, taut palate with the first whiff of tertiary notes including forest floor and tobacco alongside vanilla, cedar, and cooked fruit. The 2020 Series C has impeccable balance with ripe and refined tannins, integrated acidity, and layers of finely sculpted black fruit. This is miles off its peak. 2028 – 2032–MP
