2020 Vilafonté Series M

Vilafonté is the ambitious prestige project of Mondavi Opus One's winemaker Zelma Long, who is considered one of the best and best-known winemakers in the world, and Mike Radcliff of the famous Warwick. A so-called joint venture, but one in which the winemaker himself actually actively participates. A true South African icon winery that may not make the cheapest wines, but certainly offers extremely good value for money compared to Australia or California, according to Tim Atkin MW. "Most all of them are too cheap."

Vilafonté's commitment to quality concerns the entire production process, from the vine to the wine, and with a focus on producing a high end luxury wine experience. The name, Vilafonté, is taken from the main soil type of the estate, which covers 40 hectares and which, due to its character, is the source of the estate's wines. The composition of the team involved in Vilafonté creates a unique mix of knowledge, skills, international vision, and at the same time international recognition. The goal of the Vilafonté project is no less than to become South Africa's first true luxury wine brand.

The project involves the following partners: Zelma Long is head of the team of winemakers of the Vilafonté project. Zelma is one of the best-known winemakers in the United States, with a great international reputation. Michael Radcliffe is the General Manager of Vilafonté. Mike is Managing Director of his family estate, Warwick, regarded as one of South Africa's leading wine estates. Phil Feese is responsible for the strategic direction of vineyard management and everything related to vineyard development. Phil is in charge of vineyard management and is the one who designed the Vilafonté vineyard, which he calls “Different by Design”.

Also at the base is partner Bartholomew Broadbent (yes, the son of Michael Broadbent), who is responsible for Vilafonté's distribution in the U.S. Bartholomew is the owner of one of the most prestigious small importers in the United States. Decanter Magazine recently put him on its list of the 50 most influential people in the wine world. Vilafonté owns a total of 12 hectares, planted in 1998 and 1999. The winery measures a total of 42 hectares. Vilafonté is planted entirely like a classic Bordeaux vineyard, with carefully selected clones of Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Malbec and Merlot. During the planting, the most modern techniques in the field of satellite cartography were used, whereby the wine list was mapped with infrared photos and multi-spectrum images, to see which grape should be planted where and to determine where more or less irrigation is necessary. In this way, the best results are achieved from the plantings through optimal care of the vineyard. The wines are a perfect reflection of what South Africa has to offer.

The Paarl wine district lies to the north of Stellenbosch, and is bordered by the town of Wellington to the north-east, and the mountains of the Groot and Klein Drakenstein and Franschhoek ranges to the south-east. The Berg River, flanked by the majestic Groot Drakenstein and Wemmershoek mountains, runs through Paarl and is the life-giving artery of this wine-producing area. The valley land requires supplementary irrigation in the hot growing season before the harvest, but vineyards on the eastern slopes, having better water retention, frequently need none at all.

A large variety of grapes are grown in Paarl, of which Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc have the best potential. The Paarl district includes the wards of Simonsberg-Paarl, on the prime foothills of the Simonsberg, Agter-Paarl and Voor Paardeberg.

South Africa is one of the 'new wine countries'. However, wine has been grown here since 1652. The Dutch who started this in South Africa did not know much about wine, but after a few years the French appeared on the scene and they knew more about it. In that time, the South African wine has also improved considerably in quality. The temperature in South Africa is very high, which is why most wine-growing areas are on the coast. The sea breeze provides an ideal climate for growing grapes. Many areas can be found around Western Cape.

You will also find the beautiful town of Stellenbosch in this area. This place is all about growing wine. The residents are very hospitable and you can enjoy a good wine and the beautiful landscape here. Grand Cru wines have a nice range of naturally good South African wines. Products such as Warwick, Spier, Jordan, Wetshof, Creation, Buitenverwachting and Olifantsberg have been among our best-selling South African wines for years.

Red wine is made from blue grapes. The wines get their dark colour from the skin of the grape, which ferments with the grape juice. The intensity of the colour is determined by how long the juice has matured; a young red wine will have a somewhat purple colour, while older wines tend to be more orange or brown-red.

With around 10,000 varieties of grapes worldwide, you can go in all directions.

The most well-known blue grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Syrah / Shiraz.

Types of red wine

There are many different types of grapes with different characteristics and aromas. The differences within grape varieties are due to the difference in climate, the soil where the vines are planted, and the amount of sun.

The end result is in the hands of the winemaker. During the process from juice to wine, the winemaker still has a lot of options to change the final product into what he wants to put on the market.

The upbringing of the wine plays a major role in this. After fermentation, the process of raising and maturing the wine begins. There are many options for influencing the wine, but the most well-known concerns the ageing in wood.

If the winemaker chooses to raise the wine on wood, many things come into play. The first choice is whether new or older barrels will be used. Older, used barrels release less or no more aromas and tannins, but they still have an oxidative function. New wood barrels let in dosed oxygen and ensure that the wine has aromas and tannins. This is more intense with smaller barrels than with large wooden barrels.

Dry red wine

The most famous red wine is a dry red wine. The number of grape varieties and different taste profiles are enormous. There is a nice glass of red for every moment.

Sweet red wine

Just like sweet white wine, there is sweet red wine too! They are a lot rarer than dry red wines. If you want to try something different, it's definitely worth a try.

Alcohol-free red wine

Non-alcoholic wine is becoming more and more popular. Whether it is red non-alcoholic wine, white non-alcoholic wine, or sparkling non-alcoholic wine, more and more attention is being paid to it. Perfect for a cosy drink during pregnancy, or during a non-alcoholic month!

Red wine Gift

Red wine is fun to give, and even more fun to receive! Grandcruwijnen has ready-made wine gifts to make your gift recipient happy ;)

If you have your eye on a bottle of wine, at Grandcruwijnen we also have gift packaging to complete your gift! If you've found something you like, you can easily add a gift card during checkout.

Buy red wine online

At Grandcruwijnen you can easily buy red wine online. In our range, you will find products from the well-known grape varieties. If you want to buy a nice red wine, you have come to the right place at Grandcruwijnen. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact us!

Cabernet Sauvignon is a red grape variety. The Cabernet Sauvignon is a very well-known grape and gives a full flavour and a dark colour. The ripening process is very important.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most recognized grape varieties for red wine. The grapes are grown in almost every major wine-producing country in a wide spectrum of climates, from Australia, Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, to even China. 

Although the grapes are grown worldwide, most Cabernet Sauvignon grapes come from France, Chile, Australia and South Africa.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grape ripens late, which is why it thrives best in warm climates. In Bordeaux it is just fine, especially in the relatively warm Entre-Deux Mer and on the dry gravel soils of Médoc and Graves. 

What does a Cabernet Sauvignon wine taste like?

The Cabernet Sauvignon is the most well-behaved boy in the vineyard. He rarely abandons his owner. A Cabernet Sauvignon always gives scents and flavors of blackcurrant and spicy aromas. The difference of which aromas emerge is decided during the maturation process. If a Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in small wooden barrels, then more aromas of coffee, spices and toast will come to the fore.

What temperature should you drink Cabernet Sauvignon?

Over the occasion, a red wine should be drunk at a temperature slightly cooler than room temperature. A Cabernet Sauvignon's ideal serving temperature is 16°C, but the aromas of the wine will come out well between 15 and 18°C. 

The Malbec grape

The malbec grape can be recognized by its small shape and dark color, which partly depends on the climate in which the grape grows. For example, the malbec from France has a more powerful taste, while those from South America are riper and smoother. The malbec grape is often used as a blend in, for example, cabernet sauvignon, merlot or cabernet franc.

The Malbec has a deep purple color and is very similar to the color of the syrah or mourvedre grape. Nice to know is that the grape is easy to recognize during a tasting, because malbec can be recognized by its beautiful deep pink edge. Nice to pay attention to when holding a tasting!

What does Malbec wine taste like?

The taste of the malbec grape varies depending on the climate. The grapes from France are often a bit spicier in taste and have notes of chocolate and tobacco. The warmer the climate, the juicier and fuller the structure of the wine. In general, dark fruits are very recognizable in the smell and taste of malbec wines. Flavour elements that recur in all wines are: blackcurrants, cherries, plums and sometimes even chocolate.

The Merlot grape is originally a real (right bank) Bordeaux grape and the most planted grape in France. In many cases, this grape is mixed with Cabernet Sauvignon. The Merlot is known for its smooth and easy wines that are also full-bodied and powerful.

Today's red wine drinker likes to drink his bottle of red wine young and be able to enjoy a full taste. The Merlot is ideal for this.

What does a Merlot taste like?

The Merlot is a soft, supple red wine with fairly neutral tannins and acidity. The taste of this red wine is mainly recognizable by cherries, berries and plums. This wine contains less tannin than the Cabernet Sauvignon, making it easier and younger to drink. Due to its low acidity, the Merlot can also be used as a table wine.