Vilafonté

Sort By:

Vilafonté 2004 Series C Red (Paarl)

Price $70

Series C is the Cabernet-dominated version of a wine that brings together the winemaking talents of California winemaker Zelma Long and her viticulturist husband Phil Freese, along with Warwick Estate’s Mike Ratcliffe and San Francisco-based importer Bartholemew Broadbent. Coffee, chocolate and dark berry fruits dominate this brooding wine that shows intensity and… — R.V. (11/1/2006)

points

Vilafonté 2004 Series M Red (Paarl)

Price $50

Series M is based on Merlot and Malbec, with the two Cabernets also in the blend. Very modern in style, it has polished elegance, packs a punch of black fruits, dense mulberry flavors and long, smooth oak tastes. — R.V. (11/1/2006)

points

Vilafonté 2007 Series C Red (Paarl)

Online Exclusive

Price $50

A beautifully balanced and nuanced wine. The aromas are heady and thick but still vibrant, displaying juicy notes of black cherry, black raspberry sauce and semidried fig laced with accents of bittersweet chocolate, tobacco and white pepper. The texture is like crushed satin, with well-integrated tannins and a creamy mouthfeel. Touches of licorice root and smoky… — L.B. (3/1/2011)

points

Vilafonté 2008 Series C Red (Paarl)

Price $75

The 2008 Series C shows more grip and bruising structure than previous vintages of the Cabernet-based blend, with gripping tannins framing the hugely concentrated and heady blackberry, boysenberry and deep plum flavors. Tight and firm in the mouth, complex backnotes of black licorice, cigar tobacco and crushed African violet petals appear once the structure… — L.B. (11/1/2011)

points

Vilafonté 2009 Series C Red (Paarl)

Price $84

This stunning wine is still quite young and shut-down on the nose, taking its time in the glass to truly begin to open up. Once it does, scents of licorice root, chicory, cassis and black plum fill the bouquet. The mouthfeel is bold and powerful, with gripping tannins that coat the palate and support the dense black-fruit core. Accents of black-tea leaves and sweet… — L.B. (5/1/2013)

points

Vilafonté 2003 Series C Red (Paarl)

Price $70

A fairly big (14.5% alcohol), chewy wine, but one that delivers waves of lush fruit. Plum and cassis notes are framed by hints of smoke and cedar; the merest hint of green herbs adds complexity without detracting. Long and supple on the finish. Drink now–2015. — W.E. (11/15/2005)

points

Vilafonté 2007 Series M Red (Paarl)

Online Exclusive

Price $35

Although this might be second to the Series C, it’s still up there in terms of high quality and class. Red plum, fresh fig and subtle blueberry are augmented by glimmers of licorice and earthy spice. The mouth is full and as forward as the nose, loaded with thick juicy fruit flavors that lead gracefully into the raspberry mash and tobacco infused finish. Drink now–2013. — L.B. (3/1/2011)

points

Vilafonté 2009 Series M Red (Paarl)

Price $56

Vanilla cream and raspberry sauce lead the bouquet of this Bordeaux-stlye blend, followed by darker fruit tones of boysenberry, plum and black cherry. Those notes continue on to the palate, filling the mouth and lending lushness to the crushed velvet texture. Strong but balanced, with a long, evolving finish that ends of a spicy, sweet-smoke accent. Drink now–2016. — L.B. (5/1/2013)

Most Reviewed Designations

Series C Series M

Most Reviewed Varietals

Bordeaux-style Red Blend

2009 W.H. Smith Purple Label Piedra Hill Vineyard

This is a gigantic Cabernet, deeply concentrated and enormously tannic…

(Sponsored)