2006 Vilafonté Series M
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Tasting notes
The 2006 Series M has a floral bouquet of pure peppermint and violet aromas that billows from the glass; the floral component gains intensity with aeration. The palate is fleshy and ripe, perhaps more approachable than the 2005, offering dark plum, meat juices and white pepper toward the finish. My advice would be to crack this open before the 2005 or 2007. Fine.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Much juicier and more convincing than the 2005. This wine has an interesting future! (JR)
(43% cabernet sauvignon, 39% merlot, 15% malbec and 3% cabernet franc): Bright ruby-red. Merlot-dominated aromas of plum, chocolate, mocha and lead pencil. Fat, broad and sweet, with a slightly medicinal quality to the plum and herb flavors. Finishes with rather serious tannins that call for at least a couple more years of bottle aging.
Much older soils than those in Washington state. 43% CS, 29% Merlot, 15% Malbec, 3% CF. Zelma Long says, 'We like Malbec in SA because Merlot is very structured and powerful. Malbec provides the flesh in our M (= Merlot/Malbec) blends.' pH 3.65. Big, bold, smooth, alcoholic, pretty Napaesque. Rich and lively. Though tarry on the finish where it fades a little. Then it pinches and is not very integrated. Slightly drying tannins. (JR)
About the producer
Based in Paarl, Vilafonté was created by two leading Californian consultants, Zelma Long and Dr Phil Freese, with South African native Mike Ratcliffe. Today its Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends are some of the country’s most respected – and highest rated.