Wine connoisseurs will be delighted at the news that the latest edition of Vergelegen’s flagship redcuvée, the 2018 Vergelegen V, has just been released.
The Vergelegen V represents the pinnacle of winemaking at the renowned Somerset West estate, and has been acclaimed since the winery’s maiden 2001 V blend was introduced to the market in June 2005.
This meticulously crafted blend has also played a central role in the South African winemaking sector’s long-standing campaign for the country to gain global recognition as a producer of great wines. Vergelegen V has consistently been acclaimed in blind tastings of top Bordeaux blends from around the world.
The 2018 vintage – 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot – is pure and fresh with notes of spice, dark chocolate and cedarwood. Vibrant in youth, it benefits from further bottle maturation of up to 20 years.
Following an enduring philosophy of “only the best is good enough”, V is produced from vines grow in Glenrosa and Hutton soil types in the 324-year-old estate’s Stone Pine IV vineyard. Situated on the west- to northwest-facing inland slopes of Schaapenberg, the location is relatively sheltered from breezes off False Bay, some eight kilometres away, and enjoys a slightly warmer but still predominantly maritime climate.
Grapes are hand-picked, sorted in the vineyard and again at the cellar door to ensure optimal ripeness and the purest varietal expression. After initial fermentation in closed tanks at temperatures of 28-30°C, the young wine receives a post-fermentation maceration of 28 days, followed by malolactic fermentation in new French oak.
The V is matured in French oak barrels for 16 months to achieve a fine balance between fruit character and oak maturation, revealing the distinctiveness of the Vergelegen terroir. The wine matures for 24 months in bottle before release.
The 2018 South African wine harvest was challenging due to a prolonged drought. This resulted in smaller berries than usual, which diminished the total tonnage, but had the positive outcome of good colour and flavour intensity.
Vergelegen V 2018 is available online from the estate at a cost of R1800/bottle, and from selected distributors.
This 2018 release, of 600 cases, marks the final edition of V in its familiar labelling. To mark the occasion, each collection of six bottles is presented in a handcrafted wooden crate, making a purchase an ideal addition to any wine collection.
Tech: Alcohol – 14% RS- 2.9 g/l PH – 3.72 TA – 5.6
Find out more and purchase Vergelegen V 2018.