South Africa
Paarl
Vilafonte Series M Vintages, 2012
Lot
1618
Grape Variety
Producer
Vilafonte Series M Paarl
Deep brick ruby in colour, the 2012 has aromas of forest floor, smoke, incense and dark fruits. Ripe fruits are present on the palate, which is supple, rich and smooth with more floral notes emerging and a herbal edge. A complex and satisfying wine finishing with blackcurrant, black cherries and bitter cherry flavours. Cool weather in spring led to a delayed flowering followed by drier than normal conditions for January and February. The 2012 blend is a majority of Merlot with 35% Malbec and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only a modest amount of new oak was used to mature the wine for 16 months in French oak barrels.
Vilafonté Series M Paarl
Showing no obvious colour development, the 2014 has sweet and appealing aromas of Parma violets, vanilla, blueberries and blackcurrants with a cedary counterpoint. This is a concentrated wine full of soft ripe fruits. It is smooth and structured, dense with fine powdery tannins, youthful dark fruit flavours and a supple finish with good acidity. Harvest started slightly later than usual with consistent conditions and even ripening throughout the vineyard. A great vintage for Merlot which represents 39% of the blend with 36% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon providing structure.
Vilafonte Series M Paarl
Vilafonté’s vineyards were protected by their location on the northern side of the Simonsberg Mountain from devastating winds that hit many vineyards in Stellenbosch in 2013. The 2013 Series M is a Malbec-driven wine that has a slight brick edge to the colour and aromas of ripe cooked fruits, spices and blackcurrant leaf. It is medium bodied with nice weight but slightly lighter than the 2014 and ready for earlier drinking. A fine elegant wine with a long cedary finish. It was matured for 20 months in French oak barrels with 17% new.
Deep brick ruby in colour, the 2012 has aromas of forest floor, smoke, incense and dark fruits. Ripe fruits are present on the palate, which is supple, rich and smooth with more floral notes emerging and a herbal edge. A complex and satisfying wine finishing with blackcurrant, black cherries and bitter cherry flavours. Cool weather in spring led to a delayed flowering followed by drier than normal conditions for January and February. The 2012 blend is a majority of Merlot with 35% Malbec and 17% Cabernet Sauvignon. Only a modest amount of new oak was used to mature the wine for 16 months in French oak barrels.
Vilafonté Series M Paarl
Showing no obvious colour development, the 2014 has sweet and appealing aromas of Parma violets, vanilla, blueberries and blackcurrants with a cedary counterpoint. This is a concentrated wine full of soft ripe fruits. It is smooth and structured, dense with fine powdery tannins, youthful dark fruit flavours and a supple finish with good acidity. Harvest started slightly later than usual with consistent conditions and even ripening throughout the vineyard. A great vintage for Merlot which represents 39% of the blend with 36% Malbec and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon providing structure.
Vilafonte Series M Paarl
Vilafonté’s vineyards were protected by their location on the northern side of the Simonsberg Mountain from devastating winds that hit many vineyards in Stellenbosch in 2013. The 2013 Series M is a Malbec-driven wine that has a slight brick edge to the colour and aromas of ripe cooked fruits, spices and blackcurrant leaf. It is medium bodied with nice weight but slightly lighter than the 2014 and ready for earlier drinking. A fine elegant wine with a long cedary finish. It was matured for 20 months in French oak barrels with 17% new.
750ml
6
14%
Forest floor, incense, dark fruits
Floral, herbal edge, blackcurrant, black cherries
Braised lamb shanks with caramelized onions and shallots, served with potato and root vegetable mash