Vilafonte Seriously Old Dirt 2022

"The 2021 Seriously Old Dirt is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc, matured for 12-18 Months in a combination of older French oak barrique (48%) and the remaining balance in tanks with new French oak. It has a clean and fresh bouquet with blackberry, cedar and light pencil shaving aromas, just a subtle scent of wild mint in the background. Nicely focused. The palate is medium-bodied with a grainy-textured opening, veering more to red fruit (raspberry and wild strawberry) with a liberal sprinkling of cracked black pepper. Fruit-forward towards the finish, this has more opulence compared to other Bordeaux blends this vintage. Still, everything is finely proportioned, with a very slight leafiness emanating from the cooler vintage on the finish. Seriously good." -NM, Vinous 08/2023