2016 Vilafonté Series M

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 93.5 points

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  1/12/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 95 Points

  First one of these popped in right about 2 years and it's def a point better than the last bottle, maybe 2? Last one was a 94, this is an easy 95-96 with 1-2 hours of air.
  
  This is a unique wine. the 'M' series for 'Merlot' and 'Malbec' and usually it's Merlot dominant but for this vintage there's actually about 14% more Malbec which is the dominant grape. Two years ago that was noticeable on the palate but now? A slight whiff of Malbec on the nose but within an hour it's gone and the palate seems to be Merlot driven now. This is a very handsome wine. It's aged, it's refined, it's got its sh** together in a classy structured way. Medium plus weight, no over the top sweetness or jam. It's walking a nice precise line of quality. This cements my feelings from back in '19 when first tasting it. It's keeps getting better with age.....this would fool many a Napa wine drinker, maybe a few winemakers, too. Excellent qpr at $50/bottle when purchased there in '19, seems to be about double that now. Still, compared to the quality as compared to Bdx and Napa it's a no brainer. Happy to have a couple bottles left in the cellar.
  
  As MILMIL says below, the spice and candied ginger is just fantastic on its very LONG ending.

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  6/17/2023 - milmil121212 Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Decanted for 90 minutes.
  
  Lovely stuff. Garnet in the glass. Nose is restrained; red fruit, some spice. In the mouth, medium body, fresh, very smooth, red fruit evolving towards orange and cinnamon flavors. Finish has some length to it, more orange and some candied ginger.

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  1/24/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Strong red/dark red/black fruited wine. Tannins are integrating, acidity is roundly supporting everything. Malbec dominant this year and it's what you get structurally on your palate with this one, right now. This is a stellar wine and sure to age beautifully over many years. Glad I have a few more bottles.

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  8/26/2020 - Hkalian Likes this wine:

  Chocolate and vanilla. V smooth. Enjoyed this. 2016 needs a few more years. Get more and store

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  12/8/2019 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 Points

  From memory last night......merlot dominated red blend from this top notch SAfrican producer. This is a classy drinker. Lighter medium weight than say, the typical Cali blend, dark crimson in the glass, there is no thick overbearing jammy fruit. There is a certain restraint here. Balance is the key. There is great red fruit, the nose is delicately perfumed and incensed. The balance in energy and tannins is carried out perfectly. There's good vibrancy here, good life. Nice to have this alternative in the cellar. Might even get a point or two better going forward.

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