Yash Gala

9.1

Good wine. Didn't have it at the right temperature but it had good potential. Deep, blackberries, noticeable tanins.. — 5 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The nose reveals; sweet vanillin, ripe, blackberries, dark cherries, floral blueberries, creamy, blackberries & black plum skin. Black licorice notes, granitic soils, light tobacco leaf, dry stone, light fresh herb notes, dry brush, soft leather with fresh red/blue and violet flowers.

The entry is ripe and juicy and evolves into big, dry, powdery tannins with deep, dark spice that sets on the palate with heat. Ripe, blackberries, dark cherries, floral blueberries, creamy, blackberries, black & plum skin. Black licorice notes, vanillin, granitic soils, light tobacco leaf, dry stone, light fresh herb notes, dry brush, soft leather with fresh red/blue and violet flowers. The acidity is like rainfall. The elegant, ripe, lush, polished, well balanced finish is delicious. Very luxurious mouthfeel.

Photos of; their vineyard during harvest, the granite soil structure of their vineyard, Our host, Sophia Hawkins and their Cellar Door facilities. — 6 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.4

Real pleasure. Started out surprisingly soft and elegant and about 1 hour in it just jumped the river and became a true grippy left bank Bordeaux. I had to check our claim that Vilafonté Bordeaux series m and c can stand shoulder to shoulder with the big rollers of Bordeaux. They sure do! Try for yourself and experience a wine from an ancient soil. You will not be disappointed. www.spokenwines.com. — a year ago

with Tammy

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Last of the single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon bottlings we tasted at Aperture Cellars with Lauren. Dark purplish ruby red. Ripe red berries on the nose with some spices, perfume and a touch earthy. Medium tannins (7/10) and full bodied. A bit of heat on the palate with some cassis, black cherries and spices. Not as vast as the Del Rio with a touch of dark cocoa. Needs some time to pull itself together. Dry and gravelly long finish. Drink from 2019 till 2030. (92+)

This is made up of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc from the Oliver Ranch Vineyard and cultivated by Phil Freese. Who actually does another one of our favorites - Vilafonté in South Africa.


First stop on our very first trip to Sonoma, and we were not dissappointed. The wines made by Jesse Katz have a ton of finesse, power and character. Definitely a winery for any wine lover or collector to have on their radar. Stay tuned for some exciting new wines coming out in the 2017 vintage, possibly an old vine Zinfandel. Also a must visit for art and photography lovers. — 6 years ago

with India

Jan de Weerd

9.4

Super balanced, full bodied, full flavor wine from South Africa made from grapes grown in some of the oldest soils in world. Soils that have never been impacted by volcanos, floods or rivers, date back millions years old. The winemaker is capturing the character of these soils by making a Bordeaux style wine. In this case a “Right bank style” where, just in this vintage a good portion of the Merlot was actually replace by Malbec, interestingly. Polished tannins in full harmony with the dark fruit flavors give it great precision and a soothing finish. — 2 years ago

with Tammy

Juha Loponen

9.1

Kevyesti puuterimaista tammea, boysenmarjaa, nahkaa, savua ja lyijykynää. Viini räjähtää kompleksina kokonaisuutena suussa. Maku kantaa erittäin pitkään ja puristaa suuta hienostuneesti. — 8 years ago

Christy Canterbury MW

Master of Wine

9.7

V possibly the most exciting #Bordeaux blend I've ever tasted from #SouthAfrica via @vilafonte @bollewbroadbent — 11 years ago