Vilafonté Series M 2023
Vilafonté Series M 2021
This sensuous wine embodies a refined style and dignified elegance. A Malbec and Merlot dominant blend, opulent in nature, with a defining structure of Cabernet Sauvignon.
22 months in 26% new French oak barrique. A blend of Merlot (41%), Malbec (35%), Cabernet Sauvignon (17%) and Cabernet Franc (7%).
Only 78 barrels were produced.
Mysterious & Potent
A masterpiece. The Series M 2021 is enticingly dense with complex and exotic aromas and rich with
flavour, owing to the Merlot and Malbec components that define this blend.
It presents an opaque purple-black hue, with little variation from its centre to the glass’s edge. As it
unwinds in the glass, savoury charcuterie and sweet baking spices give way to fragrant, zesty bergamot
and jasmine tea. Seductively well-articulated fruit notes of ripe mulberry, blackberry and red currants are complemented by hints of star anise and dried mandarin rind. A subtle underlying ferrous tone of intrigue. The palate is beautifully round and effortlessly long. A texture reminiscent of crushed velvet envelops the senses, revealing a pleasurable structure, abundant yet precise power, and a supple, mouth-coating quality. Gorgeous umami flavours of Parma ham harmonize seamlessly with a saline minerality, culminating in an intense, fruit-driven finish. While the 2021 Series M is already complete in its youth, this blend will reward those who exercise
patience, as it continues to evolve and develop complexity. Enjoy now or cellar for two decades or more.
Vilafonte Series C 2023
Series C 2021
Sumptuous & Measured
Series C 2021 represents a vivid expression of our unique vilafonté site.
It exhibits a dark red-black coloured centre and brightly ruby-rimmed edge. Opening unhurriedly it reveals a layered aromatic palette with notes of incense and violet blossom that segue to delicious black plum, fresh black currants and Boysenberries. Subtle hints of sandalwood, sappy juniper and blonde tobacco gradually emerge with further time in the glass. The palate is luscious, with silky tannins and linear progression that finish with great presence and length. Generous fruit expression adds dimension to this elegant and impeccably well-balanced wine.
While the 2021 Series C is already complete in its youth, this blend will reward those who exercise patience, as it continues to evolve and develop complexity. Enjoy now or cellar for two decades or more.
99/100 Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, December 2023
"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."
Prats & Symington Post Scriptum 2023
Prats & Symington Post Scriptum 2023 is a Portuguese red wine crafted from Touriga Nacional, along with Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. From the esteemed Douro Valley, it exhibits a deep ruby hue and a bouquet of ripe red fruits, subtle spices and oak influences. The palate reveals a structured body, characterised by a moderate acidity and firm tannins, providing a savoury finish. Prats & Symington, established in 1998, is known for its commitment to sustainable practices, ensuring meticulous vineyard management and quality.
Groot Constantia Gouverners Reserve Red 2021
The Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve Red 2021 is a South African red blend from the Constantia region, featuring notes of blackcurrant, dark chocolate, and cedar. It is a full-bodied, complex wine with a firm structure and aging potential, made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.
Zorgvliet Richelle 2019
Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon–led, with Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot in support.
Aroma & Palate: Concentrated blackcurrant, cassis and mulberry with violet, graphite and cedar. Layers of plum, leather, dried herbs, spice, tobacco leaf and a touch of eucalyptus. Rich but refined, with fine-grained tannins.
Structure & Finish: Powerful yet elegant; long, savoury finish with hints of mocha, dark chocolate and subtle salinity.
Bodega Norton Privada Family Blend 2023
The Bodega Norton Privada Family Blend 2023 is an Argentine red wine from the Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza region, composed of 40% Malbec, 30% Merlot, and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is aged for 16 months in French oak, resulting in a deep ruby-red wine with aromas of ripe fruit, spice, and vanilla, and a rich, full-bodied palate with smooth tannins. The wine is praised for its complexity and is often paired with red meats and aged cheeses.
Anthonij Rupert Optima 2021
ANTHONIJ RUPERT OPTIMA 2021
37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec
Tendrils of spice add nuance and allure to a nose packed with black berries, hedgerow fruit and some mocha notes. The palate is plush, rounded and pillowy but layered with dark fruitcake flavour, black cherry, baking spice and pencil shavings too. The mouthfeel is complemented by its overall stature and regal refinement. Balanced with seamless integration of oak and ripe, rich fruit with lovely succulence and freshness as well. Complex, supple and silky smooth, the wine is ultimately simply delicious with a superbly long tail
Hartenberg The Megan 2019
VERGELEGEN V 2017
VERGELEGEN V 2017 is from a small selection of the best barrels from Vergelegen's Stone Pine IV Vineyard. It should be no surprise that this blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot is once again 'extraordinarily good' (CE) considering 2017 is what Tim Atkin MW calls 'one of the best ever South African vintages'.
Scoring 96 points from WineMag's Christian Eedes, 95 points from Atkin and 94+ points from the Wine Advocate's Anthony Mueller, this is a 'fresher and more nuanced' (TA) V than the 2018 vintage that will follow. The nose is initially a bit reductive but opens up to reveals classic 'ripe, succulent aromas' (WA) of red and black berries, tea leaf, violets and cedarwood. The most significant feature of the 'tight and complex' (WA) is its 'reined-in power' (CE). Its combination of 'lovely fruit purity, fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins' (CE) make this a 'steadfast and pleasurable' (WA) Bordeaux blend that is sure to delight for many decades to come.
Moss Wood Amy’s 2023
Moss Wood Amy’s is With lifted dark fruit aromas of mulberries and blackcurrants, backed by some spicy, white pepper notes from the Malbec and musk-like perfumes from the Petit Verdot and with complex cedar and tarry notes in the background. The palate is dominated by dark fruit notes, with juicy blackberry and red currant flavours backed by firm but ripe tannins and juicy acidity.
63% Cabernet Sauvignon
23% Merlot
7% Malbec
7% Petit Verdot
Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore 2019
Grattamacco Bolgheri Superiore 2019
A heady perfume of meaty red fruit and spice rises from the glass on the bouquet. Rich and mouth-filling on the palate, a real vino di piacere with ripe red and black, spicy fruit vying for attention, brought together by rapier-like acidity and meltingly fine tannins. This delicious Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese blend from Bolgheri is not trying to be Sassicaia nor Ornellaia; it’s very much its own wine, more akin to Tignanello, but different again from the wine from Chianti Classico. It’s a delightful wine—delicious now but capable of up to a decade’s cellaring.
Drink now to 2030
Hartenberg The Megan 2016
Hartenberg The Megan 2016
TASTING NOTES:
Vibrant red cherry, Karoo shrub and spicy notes on the bouquet. Incredibly soft on palate entry. The mid-palate is creamy, juicy,
bursting with flavour and finishes with a very moreish, lingering aftertaste. Fine dry tannins will ensure beneficial further ageing.
85% Shiraz
12% Grenache
3% Mourvedre
94/100 Tim Atkin MW
