2023 Vilafonté Seriously Old Dirt Magnum

The second label from the Vilafonté winery, Seriously Old Dirt, is named after the old Vilafontes soil on which the vines have been growing for nearly two decades. "It's all about the dirt." The vines are planted on completely uncultivated soil: hence Seriously Old Dirt. Every hectare of vines at Vilafonté is meticulously cultivated and harvested, with attention to detail and a unique focus. For Seriously Old Dirt, hand-picked grapes from the younger vines, approximately 4 to 6 years old, are used. After picking, the grapes macerate for 6 to 7 days in a cool climate. During fermentation, partial natural fermentation and an extended fermentation period are employed. The juice is aged in French oak barrels for 22 months.

Seriously Old Dirt is also described as “Playful and Intriguing”. The wine is ruby red in color and remarkably fresh and fruity on the nose, with aromas of red cherry, plum, and blueberries. Accented by hints of spicy Szechuan and cayenne pepper and notes of dried herbs, these are complemented by vanilla, white chocolate, cinnamon, and a scent of cigar boxes. The taste of the wine is generous, with juicy red fruit and a delightful mouthfeel, featuring a core of fine tannins and a long finish. Delicious with a steak in a coffee rub, fillet steak with truffle jus, a lamb tagine, green lentil curry, and meatballs with aubergine and porcini mushrooms in tomato sauce. This is a 1.5-liter magnum. Even tastier and with a longer drinking window.

All three 2021 Vilafonté wines made the James Sucklings "Top 100 Wines of South Africa" — each scored more than 93 points!

Vilafonté - America meets South Africa

Vilafonté is a special project in Paarl. It is the first collaborative project between an American and a South African company in the world of wine. And it is not only unique in that respect. It is also special because it is a collaboration between partners fully dedicated to top quality, with specialists from both countries focusing entirely on producing 'quality wines'. Vilafonté started as a project initially focused on the American market, but is now also successful in other major export markets.

Vilafonté’s pursuit of quality encompasses the entire production process, from the soil to the bottle, with a luxurious and grand appearance as the primary focus. The name, Vilafonté, is derived from the estate’s most important soil type, which, due to its character, forms the source of the winery’s wines. The composition of the team involved with Vilafonté creates a unique blend of knowledge, skills, international vision, and, simultaneously, international recognition. The goal of the Vilafonté project is nothing less than to become South Africa’s first true luxury wine brand.

The following partners are involved in the project: Zelma Long is the head of the team of winemakers for the Vilafonté project. Zelma is one of the most renowned winemakers in the United States, with a great international reputation. Michael Ratcliffe is the General Manager of Vilafonté. Mike is the Managing Director of his family estate, Warwick, which is considered one of the most prominent wineries in South Africa. 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, the vineyard he calls “Different by Design”.

Also at the foundation is partner Bartholomew Broadbent (yes, the son of), who is responsible for Vilafonté's distribution in the US. Bartholomew is the owner of one of the most prestigious small importers in the United States. Decanter Magazine recently placed 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 strictly selected clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Merlot. The latest techniques in satellite mapping were used during planting, whereby the vineyard map was charted using infrared photographs and multi-spectrum images to determine which grape variety should be planted where and to establish where more or less irrigation was necessary. In this way, the best results are obtained from the vines through optimal vineyard care. The wines are a perfect reflection of this: South African with great class.