Wine Composition
58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc
Winemakers Comments
Series C 2019 displays an intense ruby-purple color and a vibrant, crimson rim.
Dense on opening, this blend offers seductively fragrant layers of blackberry, cassis and baked plum, perfectly offset by a savory, hoisin sauce note. Opulent floral notes; violet and lilac harmoniously blend to fresh-crushed juniper berry, pencil shavings, nuanced dark chocolate and sweet, warm nutmeg. The palate reveals a plush, expansive entry, with vivid continuity. Fine-grained tannins throughout embody a cashmere embrace, building on the fine and assertive structure. Sumptuous black berry fruits are expressive and well-defined, underpinned by a mouth-watering core with an effortlessly long finish. While alluring in its youth, the 2019 Series C promises a decade or more of cellaring to realize its full potential.
Awards
Tim Atkin | 95 points (2018)
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
14.5%
Vintage
A tale of two seasons – give and take. In the shadow of persistent drought conditions, rains remained elusive in the post-harvest period of 2018. There was an upswing in rainfall toward the end of winter, continuing into spring and early summer. However, weather fluctuations in the spring contributed to an uneven bud-break and berry set. Conditions improved at the onset of summer with a warmer November, conducive to vineyard growth. Some variability in ripening caused by the irregular springtime conditions were remedied by in-bunch sorting after véraison to maintain quality. Harvest timing was, as always, at the beginning on February, continuing with a measured pace and fair weather through to the end. Mother Nature rebalanced the scales with beautiful soft rains, immediately after our last grapes were picked. This augurs well indeed for harvest 2020.
A testament to resilience; despite the vagaries of the weather, wines of the vintage show freshness, concentration and elegance.
Winemaker
Name: Martin Smith & Zelma Long
Winery
Vilafonté is the first American and South African joint wine-making venture. This groundbreaking red wine project is a partnership between a respected group of wine specialists from South Africa (Michael Ratcliffe) and the United States (Zelma Long and Phillip Freese). Vilafonté is the first winery in South Africa to focus on making wine aimed specifically at the US market. The name Vilafonté is derived from the primary soil type of the 100-acre estate, whose character forms the foundation of the wines. The Vilafonté project aims to create the first luxury wine brand from South Africa.
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