VilafonteSeriously Old Dirt 2020

A vibrant red, featuring a dark, generous core of black and red currant fruit, tea leaves and mint, mocha and spices. This is appealing for its grace and integration, with light, taut tannins lending definition and poise. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030.

This is another serious effort from the Vilafonte team after last year’s award winning 2019 release. The 2020 blend consists of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 4% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc and was matured for 18 months in older French oak barriques. Moving more towards a distinctly Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend compared to earlier editions which often featured more Merlot and Malbec, this rich ruby red coloured wine shows all the classic aromatics of black currant, strawberry shortbread, gingerbread cookie dough, cherry tobacco and hints of vanilla pod spice. Always a wine that unashamedly aspires to a higher, more hedonistic mantra, like the 2019, this 2020 exhibits a supremely well-honed, polished, elegant textural mouthfeel with effortlessly friendly tannins, an intense but weightless black and red berry fruit concentration and a plush, long, tightly focused finished. Knowing that this wine traditionally holds a lot of secrets, I reviewed it over two consecutive night’s tasting but came to the same conclusion in the end – that this is yet another very polished wine with age-worthy credentials that will appeal to seasoned collectors and the man in the street alike. A serious wine that is also seriously delicious! Drink from release and over the next 10 to 15 years.

(Wine Safari Score: 92/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Bright aromas of red cherries, brambleberries, elderflowers and violets. Medium-bodied with soft tannins. Focused, bright and succulent. Red-fruited. Fresh and lively through the elegant finish. Drink now.

Bright aromas of red cherries, brambleberries, elderflowers and violets. Medium-bodied with soft tannins. Focused, bright and succulent. Red-fruited. Fresh and lively through the elegant finish. Drink now.