2022 Vilafonté "Seriously Old Dirt" Cabernet Sauvignon Paarl

The Vilafonté 2022 Seriously Old Dirt pays homage to the wonders of South African geology based on, ahem, very old soils. These range from shale, decomposed granite, sandstone and other formations traced back one billion years and having seen little to no movement in the form of glaciation, volcanic events or earthquakes. So-called Vilafontes soils are some of the world's oldest documented soil types. This is a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Malbec, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from older vines for structure and complexity. These latter varieties are the "salt and pepper," says Winemaker Arlene Mains. They add darker fruit, pencil shaving and petrichor over a medium-plus body with a bold and austere personality. Hand-me-down barrels used in the Series C and Series M wines are directed to this wine and represent mostly second- and third-use oak; however, some of the barrels in the program date back to 2004. The wine matures in oak for 18 months. Reddish stone soils add a salty or ferrous quality to the wine. Tobacco leaf and cigar box emerge as the wine spends more time in the glass. (ML)