Wine Composition
57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 9% Malbec
Winemakers Comments
Series C 2017 showcases beautiful purity, striking intensity and a remarkably long finish of dark fruit
with a touch of clove spice.
This blend displays a deep, intense ruby colour. The nose offers a remarkably complex fruit
expression, opening with blackcurrant, blueberry and fresh juniper berry interwoven with sensuous
violet perfume. Composed dark fruits transition to hints of chocolate and hazelnut praline. A
subtle slate/lead-like minerality underlies a bittersweet, spicy Cola note. The entry is plush and
weighty, with an abundance of fine-grained tannins across the palate - most reminiscent of crushed
velvet. Although immediately engaging, this blend will mature most gracefully, rewarding the patient
collector.
Technical Analysis
Alcohol Percentage
14.5%
Vintage
An abundant crop of sterling quality. Yields rose by fifty-seven percent, despite the fourth year in a
sequence of below-average rainfall for the Western Cape Province. This follows Vilafont's smallest
per-hectare crop (2016) and moves back to long-term average yields. Welcome post-harvest rains in
the preceding year before leaf fall, coupled with well-timed nutrient applications, allowed our vines
to build up reserves before going into winter dormancy. Winter rains in 2016 approached normal
levels, but fell below average in late winter to spring. Bud-break in the spring was very even, with
rapid shoot growth which ceased well before bloom, allowing excellent fruit-set. Weather leading
up to harvest was warm and fair - perfect ripening conditions. Harvest commenced on the 6th of
February with a few short pauses, and concluded on the 1st of March. At blending, varietal wines were
expressive, showing a classical elegance and restrained power - steel sheathed in velvet.
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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