Vergelegen

"NEW WORLD WINERY OF THE YEAR, Wine Enthousiast Magazine USA 2005" / "BEST SOUTH AFRICAN WINERY" Wine Magazine SA 2004-2008 / "MOST SUCCESSFUL PRODUCER" Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show SA 2002-2004/2006

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BRUT MMV *201629.65
Lovely fine mousse with a hint of toast, citrus, spice and baked apples. Long, lingering and refreshing aftertaste. 100% Chardonnay.
Gilbert & Gaillard: 94
CHARDONNAY RESERVE *201716.80
Vergelegen's Reserve bottling is a single vineyard wine, made from a block planted with five different clones at 150 meters. It's a rich, textured style showing toasty, vanilla and citrus fruit flavours. Maturation in 35% new French oak barrels topped off by second-fill and third-fill barrels.
Tim Atkin: 92, Platter: 93
GVB WHITE BLEND *201827.30
Tight, focused and beautifully integrated with herbal (fynbos) grapefruity flavours, ripe tropical notes and a long, focused aftertaste. Semillon 50% & Schaapenberg Sauvignon Blanc 50%. Slightly oaked.
Prescient Top Ten, Tim Atkin: 95, Platter: 94
SAUVIGNON BLANC RESERVE202217.55
The grapes come from the famous Schaapenberg Vineyard on the Schaapenberg Hill. This hill functioned as Governor Van der Stels look out for ships rounding Cape Point. The 2.5 hectare single vineyard was planted in 1988 and is located 6,5 km from False Bay, directly south-facing at 320 meters above sea level.
SEMILLON RESERVE201716.50
Attractive light green colour. Nose shows delicate citrus, white flowers, honey and spice. The wine is finely focused, complex and well balanced with a crisp acidity. Excellent with mussel soup, salmon, grilled Yellowtail and chicken. Stunning with seared tuna and scallops. Eight months fermentation took place in 225 litre French oak barrels.
Tim Atkin: 94, Platter: 93
STRAW WINE *201310.25
Grapes were either dried on the vines or on wooden pallets. The grapes were not crushed or de-stemmed but fermented on the skins. The fermenting sweet juice was transferred to old barrels for completion of alcoholic fermentation. Ripe, tropical fruit abounds on the nose but the wine does not become dull and uninteresting due to marvelous acidity and freshness on the palate. Serve well chilled at 8-10 degrees Centigrade. Do not serve with chocolate in any form! Blend of 50% Sauvignon Blanc and 50% Semillon.
Platter: ****½
STRAW WINE *201510.60
Ripe, tropical fruit abounds. 100% Semillon grapes were either dried on the vines or on wooden pallets. The wine spent 15 months in old oak.
Tim Atkin: 93, Platter: 92
CABERNET / MERLOT202012.30
Bright dark red. On the nose striking cassis underlined with cedar and a fresh ripe fruit character. On the palate the freshness carries through with a long-lasting aftertaste. The grapes were handpicked and spent 18 months in 20% new French oak barrels which adds to the complexity and finesse of this wine. The blend is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Drinking beautifully now it will improve even more in the bottle over the next 5-10 years.
Tim Atkin: 90, Platter: 89
DNA201819.50
Compote of berry fruit nicely rounded by chocolate and coffee notes. The tannin structure is round and soft with a lingering aftertaste. After malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine went into 100% new French oak barrels for 16 months. Blend of Cabernet Franc 87% and Merlot 13%.
GVB RED BLEND201331.60
The 2013 is a beautiful and elegant wine with good concentration and lovely fruit. The tannins are ripe and the wine has a long aftertaste. Cabernet Sauvignon 55%; Merlot 35%; Cabernet Franc 5%; Petit Verdot 5%. Maturation in 40% new French oak barrels for 17 months.
Platter: 93
GVB RED BLEND201735.40
The grapes for the GVB blend are sourced from the Rondekop Vineyards grown at 200 to 220 meters above sea level. These vineyards are extremely wind exposed and this leads to thick skinned berries that deliver very concentrated juice. The 2017 vintage yields a wine of great complexity and distinction. The nose has expressions of red fruits, hints of grilled fenneland wafts of tobacco and cigar box which fill the glass. The palate has great texture and finesse and this vintage is offering great drinkability already. After malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine went into 50% new French oak barrels for 18 months. Blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon 67%, Merlot 21% and 12% Cabernet Franc. Accessible now but will reward careful cellaring over the next 10 to 15 years.
Tim Atkin: 93, Platter: 93
CABERNET SAUVIGNON RESERVE201721.80
The grapes were selected from Vergelegens Rooiland and Stonepine vineyards. The wine spent 18 months in barrel; 40% new oak from coopers Taransaud, Darnajou and Sylvain. The wine is complex, showing blackcurrants, spice, ripe plums and attractive wood aromas and flavours. It is full and rich with prominent tannins that bode well for future ageing.
Tim Atkin: 93, Platter: 93
CABERNET SAUVIGNON FIRST THOUGHT201528.80
First Thought Cabernet Sauvignon is from a modern, early ripening clone on north-westerly facing slopes. Matured for 18 months in French oak, 100% new, the nose shows red currant and plums, rose petal and the merest hint of fynbos. The palate is medium bodied with pure fruit, fresh acidity and a classically dry finish. Only 4 barrels made. Winemakers comment: Deep colour with aromas of black currant, cocoa powder, chicory and peppery herbs balanced with subtle sweetness and supported by firm ripe tannins.
Tim Atkin: 93, Platter: 92, Winemag.co.za:  92/100
CABERNET SAUVIGNON THE LAST WORD201528.80
A classical Cabernet at its best bright ruby red, tight packed fruit and firm tannins. Initially its appears leaner and more restrained with tighter mouth feel that evolves into an explosion of flavours. The wine was matured in 100% new 225L French barrels for 18 months.
Tim Atkin: 94, Platter: 91
CABERNET SAUVIGNON V *201564.25
The nose is complex, showing blackcurrants, red cherries, cedar wood, lead pencil and cigar box aromas. These develop in the glass and are joined by raspberry, black cherry, spice and a hint of gaminess. On the palate the wine is concentrated but elegant, with fine-grained tannins. These tannins soften even further in the glass, resulting in a luxurious wine with a long aftertaste. The 2015 is a great vintage destined to live forever. The V was matured in 100% new French oak for 18 months. Blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon 80% with Cabernet Franc 10% and Merlot 10%.
Tim Atkin: 96, Gilbert & Gaillard: 96, Platter: 96, IWSC: Silver 91
CABERNET SAUVIGNON V *201766.50
The vineyard used for the production of the V is Stone Pine IV. This vineyard consists of two adjacent units on the west to northwest facing inland slopes of Schaapenberg. The V consists of a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc and matured in new French oak for 18 months. The nose is complex, showing blackcurrants, red cherries, cedar wood, lead pencil and cigar box aromas. These develop in the glass and are joined by raspberry, black cherry, spice and a hint of gaminess. On the palate the wine is concentrated but elegant, with fine-grained tannins. These tannins soften even further in the glass, resulting in a luxurious wine with a long aftertaste. Enjoy over the next 15 to 20 years.
Tim Atkin: 95, Platter: 94
MERLOT RESERVE201719.40
The grapes were all selected from the vineyards of Rooiland (oak leaf and hutton soils), Saddle, Nursery & Stonepine (granites). Maturation took place in 225L French oak barrels for 16 months before bottling. Ripe plum colour with a ruby rim. The nose shows ripe fruit flavours, black cherries, plum, spice and a touch of chocolate. The ripeness of the fruit is balanced by fresh fruit acidity with soft wood and fruit tannins. The aftertaste is long and lasting. Accessible now but will continue to improve over the next 20 years.
Platter: 92, Tim Atkin: 91
MERLOT  THE MISTAKE201529.05
The wine shows ripe berry fruit, hints of cherry and spice with lovely fine tannins on the aftertaste. Merlot 90% & Cabernet Sauvignon 10%. The wine matured for 18 months in 50% new French 225L barrels.
Tim Atkin: 93, Platter: 91, Prescient: Top 10, Gilbert & Gaillard: 93