Vilafonté
About Vilafonté
Founded as recently as 1996, Vilafonté; was the promising collaboration between Mike Ratcliffe of Warwick Estate, Zelma Long and Phil Freese, both former key members of the legendary Mondavi team behind Opus One. Few could have predicted just how remarkable this project would become in such a short space of time even with its talented parentage.
Representing the very first American/South African vinous partnership on the ancient continent, there was considerable excitement amongst the fine wine world as to what this meant for the future of South Africa. Well, playing more than a small role in demonstrating the true brilliance of Bokke terroir, Vilafonté; enjoyed an almost immediately incredible international reputation which spread to other great producers now sought-after globally.
Viniculture
This fabulous estate was very much at the forefront of a revolution in South Africa’s (at the time) relatively unknown Paarl region. The trio’s remarkable endeavours have shown that stunning, age-worthy fine wine can be crafted from this terroir – Paarl has emerged as a formidable region to rival any on Earth when at its absolute best.
Two flagship cuvées, Series C and Series M, are produced from this 1.5 million-year-old soil. Densely planted on the bench of the Simonsberg Mountains, the estate draws its name from the oldest document soil type in the world – on which its vines are planted – Vilafonté.
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Prices:
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Wine Advocate (99)
Flirting with triple digits, the 2021 Series C is constructed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Still incredibly tight yet exuding that special “it” factor, the red blend is layered with gorgeous dark red and succulent black fruit tones with gobs of attractive oak essences that sway with power and finesse. If you're a cult California Cabernet collector, you'll want to add this to your cellar as fast as possible. Just under 20,000 bottles rested for about two years in French oak barrels, 81% new. It's utterly profound.Inc. VAT£565.18 -
(12x75cl) 2022Wine Advocate (95+)
The Vilafonté 2022 Paarl Series C is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 10% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Franc. The wine ages in French oak for 22 months, with 70% new oak. The barrels are mostly Taransaud with thinner staves for better oxygen exchange during fermentation to set the wine's deep colors and velvety appearance. The Malbec component also helps to draw out the wine's pretty color saturation. This wine was a little shy during my tasting, and this bodes well for its future ability to evolve in the bottle. However, you do taste good clarity with sweet blackberry and spice over the full-bodied mouthfeel.Inc. VAT£1,129.61 -
(12x75cl) 2022Wine Advocate (95)
The Vilafonté 2022 Paarl Series M is a blend of 40% Merlot, 39% Malbec, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. The two Cabernet grapes add structure and firmness plus a grippy quality to the tannins. Both the Merlot and the Malbec contribute textural richness and softness. The wine boasts lasting complexity with a ferrous signature, lead pencil, dark fruit, iris root and a slightly menthol tone that borders on eucalyptus. Punch-downs are gentle (Winemaker Chris de Vries calls them "gentle-downs"), and they basically consist of squeezing the berries by hand under the cap). Pump-overs are also used. This barrel-fermented wine is given early exposure to oak in order to favor integration, and aging takes place over 22 months, with 20% new wood.Inc. VAT£738.41 -
Decanter (94)
Exciting flavours of sweet mulberry, black plum, cinnamon and cedar. Super fresh and elegant, concentrated yet light on its feet.Inc. VAT£199.92 -
Greg Sherwood MW (94)
The 2021 Seriously Old Dirt is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 2% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc and shows a bright and piercing black cherry coloured core with an enticing ruby red rim. The aromatics are wonderfully seductive showing attractive notes of ripe mulberry, pressed violets, sun raisined black cherries, smoky wood embers, dried herbs and subtle earthy black currant nuances. Given time in the glass, the wine unfurls to reveal a complex savoury earthiness underpinned by sleek plush velvety tannins, soft sumptuous acids and a seamless core of red and black berry fruits with a definite Cabernet crème de cassis signature note. This is an incredibly fine-tuned, focused red blend from a great vintage that is silky and soft textured with incredible length and persistence. Devotees of Seriously Old Dirt are in for a thrilling treat this vintage as this exceptional wine will allow immediate drinking but will also reward 6 to 8+ years of extra cellaring.Inc. VAT£220.32
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Wine Advocate (99)
Flirting with triple digits, the 2021 Series C is constructed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Still incredibly tight yet exuding that special “it” factor, the red blend is layered with gorgeous dark red and succulent black fruit tones with gobs of attractive oak essences that sway with power and finesse. If you're a cult California Cabernet collector, you'll want to add this to your cellar as fast as possible. Just under 20,000 bottles rested for about two years in French oak barrels, 81% new. It's utterly profound.In Bond£451.00 -
(12x75cl) 2022
Wine Advocate (95+)
The Vilafonté 2022 Paarl Series C is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 10% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Franc. The wine ages in French oak for 22 months, with 70% new oak. The barrels are mostly Taransaud with thinner staves for better oxygen exchange during fermentation to set the wine's deep colors and velvety appearance. The Malbec component also helps to draw out the wine's pretty color saturation. This wine was a little shy during my tasting, and this bodes well for its future ability to evolve in the bottle. However, you do taste good clarity with sweet blackberry and spice over the full-bodied mouthfeel.In Bond£900.00 -
(12x75cl) 2022
Wine Advocate (95)
The Vilafonté 2022 Paarl Series M is a blend of 40% Merlot, 39% Malbec, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc. The two Cabernet grapes add structure and firmness plus a grippy quality to the tannins. Both the Merlot and the Malbec contribute textural richness and softness. The wine boasts lasting complexity with a ferrous signature, lead pencil, dark fruit, iris root and a slightly menthol tone that borders on eucalyptus. Punch-downs are gentle (Winemaker Chris de Vries calls them "gentle-downs"), and they basically consist of squeezing the berries by hand under the cap). Pump-overs are also used. This barrel-fermented wine is given early exposure to oak in order to favor integration, and aging takes place over 22 months, with 20% new wood.In Bond£574.00 -
Decanter (94)
Exciting flavours of sweet mulberry, black plum, cinnamon and cedar. Super fresh and elegant, concentrated yet light on its feet.In Bond£148.00 -
Greg Sherwood MW (94)
The 2021 Seriously Old Dirt is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 2% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc and shows a bright and piercing black cherry coloured core with an enticing ruby red rim. The aromatics are wonderfully seductive showing attractive notes of ripe mulberry, pressed violets, sun raisined black cherries, smoky wood embers, dried herbs and subtle earthy black currant nuances. Given time in the glass, the wine unfurls to reveal a complex savoury earthiness underpinned by sleek plush velvety tannins, soft sumptuous acids and a seamless core of red and black berry fruits with a definite Cabernet crème de cassis signature note. This is an incredibly fine-tuned, focused red blend from a great vintage that is silky and soft textured with incredible length and persistence. Devotees of Seriously Old Dirt are in for a thrilling treat this vintage as this exceptional wine will allow immediate drinking but will also reward 6 to 8+ years of extra cellaring.In Bond£165.00
