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Vilafonte Seriously Old Dirt bottle
Vilafonte
SKU 103984

2022 Vilafonte - Red Blend Paarl Seriously Old Dirt (750ml)

$31.99 - $31.99
$31.99
$31.99 - $31.99
$31.99
Availability:
Only 5 left!

Vilafonté was established in 1997 at the foothills of the Simonsberg Mountain in Paarl, South Africa, as the first joint American-South African winemaking venture of its kind. The estate was founded by Mike Ratcliffe alongside Californian wine specialists Zelma Long and Dr. Phil Freese, who set out to prove that Bordeaux-style blends could reach world-class quality on South African soil. Vilafonté takes its name from the ancient gravelly clay soils found on the property, among the oldest documented soil types in the world, and the estate focuses exclusively on the four classic Bordeaux red varieties.

Seriously Old Dirt is a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven blend rounded out with small amounts of malbec, merlot, and cabernet franc, sourced from vines planted in those ancient, nutrient-poor soils that naturally limit yields and concentrate fruit. The 2022 vintage followed a cool, wet start to the growing season, producing a smaller than usual crop of notable quality. The wine matures for eighteen months in French oak before release, giving it structure without overwhelming its fruit character.

The 2022 shows a deep ruby color with layers of blackcurrant, black cherry, and dark plum, lifted by violet, mint, and warm baking spice. The palate is smooth and plush, with fine tannins and a long, spiced finish. It pairs naturally with grilled or roasted red meat, game, or rich stews.

93 Points
"The Vilafonté 2022 Seriously Old Dirt pays homage to the wonders of South African geology based on, ahem, very old soils. These range from shale, decomposed granite, sandstone and other formations traced back one billion years and having seen little to no movement in the form of glaciation, volcanic events or earthquakes. So-called Vilafontes soils are some of the world's oldest documented soil types.

This is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from older vines for structure and complexity. These latter varieties are the "salt and pepper," says Winemaker Arlene Mains. They add darker fruit, pencil shaving and petrichor over a medium-plus body with a bold and austere personality. Hand-me-down barrels used in the Series C and Series M wines are directed to this wine and represent mostly second- and third-use oak; however, some of the barrels in the program date back to 2004. The wine matures in oak for 18 months. Reddish stone soils add a salty or ferrous quality to the wine. Tobacco leaf and cigar box emerge as the wine spends more time in the glass."
—Monica Larner-Wine Advocate
Appellation: Paarl
Vintage: 2022
Region: Coastal Region
Country: South Africa
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Vilafonte
Vilafonte

Vilafonté was established in 1997 at the foothills of the Simonsberg Mountain in Paarl, South Africa, as the first joint American-South African winemaking venture of its kind. The estate was founded by Mike Ratcliffe alongside Californian wine specialists Zelma Long and Dr. Phil Freese, who set out to prove that Bordeaux-style blends could reach world-class quality on South African soil. Vilafonté takes its name from the ancient gravelly clay soils found on the property, among the oldest documented soil types in the world, and the estate focuses exclusively on the four classic Bordeaux red varieties.

Seriously Old Dirt is a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven blend rounded out with small amounts of malbec, merlot, and cabernet franc, sourced from vines planted in those ancient, nutrient-poor soils that naturally limit yields and concentrate fruit. The 2022 vintage followed a cool, wet start to the growing season, producing a smaller than usual crop of notable quality. The wine matures for eighteen months in French oak before release, giving it structure without overwhelming its fruit character.

The 2022 shows a deep ruby color with layers of blackcurrant, black cherry, and dark plum, lifted by violet, mint, and warm baking spice. The palate is smooth and plush, with fine tannins and a long, spiced finish. It pairs naturally with grilled or roasted red meat, game, or rich stews.

93 Points
"The Vilafonté 2022 Seriously Old Dirt pays homage to the wonders of South African geology based on, ahem, very old soils. These range from shale, decomposed granite, sandstone and other formations traced back one billion years and having seen little to no movement in the form of glaciation, volcanic events or earthquakes. So-called Vilafontes soils are some of the world's oldest documented soil types.

This is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from older vines for structure and complexity. These latter varieties are the "salt and pepper," says Winemaker Arlene Mains. They add darker fruit, pencil shaving and petrichor over a medium-plus body with a bold and austere personality. Hand-me-down barrels used in the Series C and Series M wines are directed to this wine and represent mostly second- and third-use oak; however, some of the barrels in the program date back to 2004. The wine matures in oak for 18 months. Reddish stone soils add a salty or ferrous quality to the wine. Tobacco leaf and cigar box emerge as the wine spends more time in the glass."
—Monica Larner-Wine Advocate
Appellation: Paarl
Vintage: 2022
Region: Coastal Region
Country: South Africa
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Vilafonte