Vintage Character Vilafonté Series C 2022, an icon red from Simonsberg-Paarl in Paarl, is the estate’s Cabernet-led flagship blend, built from Cabernet Sauvignon with supporting Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. The 2022 vintage in the Cape benefited from a balanced growing season and a dry, measured finish, a combination that helped achieve ripe tannins without sacrificing lift, making it a strong year for structured yet polished reds. Its identity is rooted in Simonsberg-Paarl’s warm days, cooling influences and the estate’s distinctive ancient, well-drained Vilafontes soils, which help deliver both depth and definition.
Tasting Profile & Food Pairing The wine opens with cassis, black cherry and ripe plum, layered with violet, cedar, graphite and sweet spice. On the palate it is full-bodied and compact, with dark fruit concentration, firm but refined tannins, fresh acidity and a long, savory finish marked by cocoa, tobacco leaf and mineral tension. The Cabernet core gives it drive and architectural shape, while the Bordeaux varieties add plushness and aromatic nuance. Pair it with herb-crusted lamb rack, grilled ribeye with rosemary potatoes, or wild mushroom pappardelle.
Winery Background Vilafonté was founded in 1997 as a pioneering South African-American partnership with an uncompromising estate-grown vision, and it remains one of the Cape’s benchmark luxury producers. The philosophy centers on precise site expression, detailed viticulture and harvesting by parcel at optimal ripeness. In the cellar, lots are handled individually to preserve vineyard character, then matured in French oak to integrate structure, perfume and texture. What sets Vilafonté apart is the combination of meticulous blending, world-class technical expertise and a singular site that consistently yields reds of power, detail and longevity.