South African & International Fine Wine
Live Auction, 14 September 2019
Session Two
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
Vilafonté is a high-profile collaboration between the well-known American winemaking team of Zelma Long and Phil Freese and South Africa's Mike Ratcliffe. On the Paarl side of the Simonsberg mountain, it was founded in 1996 and their first release was the stellar 2003 vintage. Meticulous viticulture and modern cellar practices ensured that Vilafonté was at the cutting-edge of fine wine. The Merlot and Malbec dominated Series M offers more spice and flair, while the Cabernet Sauvignon based Series C is serious and more structured. Maiden vintages offer perfectly mature, poised wines almost two decades down the line and Series C and M are of the highest scoring Bordeaux-style reds in South wines. Today Vilafonté is South Africa’s most luxurious red wine brand.
Critics Ratings
'M is now for Malbec, having overtaken (just) merlot in beautifully perfumed & fruited 11 Bordeaux blend with cab (51/46/3). Firm dark flavours, with liquorice nuance, & a stately structure for long ageing. Less new oak (only 20%) here than sibling or similarly spicy, elegant 10. '– Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2015, 4.5*
'(14.5% alcohol; 51% Malbec, 46% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon): Bright, full red-ruby. Very ripe, chocolatey aromas of blackberry, blueberry and licorice pastille, lifted by subtle notes of pepper and mint; reminded me of a Napa Valley Cabernet. Supple, chocolatey and fine-grained, with a restrained sweetness to its glossy dark berry, menthol, liquorice and sexy oak flavors. Quite suave in texture but more chocolatey and less complex than the stunning 2012. Finishes with slightly less refined tannins.' – Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com, 91/100 (2015)
'51% Malbec, 46% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Smoky – but not in a rubbery way, in a toasty oak sort of way. Luscious black fruit, long and sophisticated on the palate. Still very much on the way up.' – Richard Hemming MW, Jancis Robinson 17+20 (2018)
Provenance
Wine Cellar