2011 Vilafonte Series C

(60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 14% Malbec): Vibrant medium ruby color. Lovely violet lift to the cassis, blueberry and sweet oak aromas. Wonderfully fine-grained and plush on entry, with sweet dark berry, bitter chocolate and violet flavors framed by well-judged oak and harmonious acidity. Rich and broad but not at all heavy. Boasts more precision and energy than the 2011 Series M and finishes with finer tannins and more length.

The 2011 Series C was apparently the shortest vintage in history with warm days and cool nights. It is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% merlot, 14% Malbec and 9% Cabernet Franc, aged for 22 months in new and used barrels. There is a tangible “coolness” on the nose: not as intense of as exuberant as the previous two vintages, but replete with fine blackberry, autumn leave and mineral scents, suggesting a higher percentage of Cabernet than there actually is. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple entry. This is rounded and smooth with greater depth that the nose suggests. Here the Merlot plays a more conspicuous role than on the nose, fleshing and rounding out the finish that is harmonious and long. Very fine.