Vergelegen

Vergelegen Tasting
10 May 2010
Vivat Bacchus

1. Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Grassy, crisp and acidic. Intense green fruit. Good length. Well balanced. 7% Semillon and left on lees to give texture.

2. Vergelegen White 2008
Oaked - not integrated yet. Very ripe fruit. Intense flavour of apricots on the palate. Quite short - can just feel the oak tannin. Plenty of fruit so may get better with age but not that enjoyable now.

3. Chardonnay 2009
Quite pale with appropriate oak (40% fermented in new oak). Surprisingly high acid which gives a very acidic finish. Primary fruit character. Refreshing. When the wine warms up the oak is more prominent. Good stuff though.

4. Chardonnay Reserve 2007
Medium intensity apricot and vegetal nose. Also tinned pineapple. Nicely oaked. Elegant with good mouthfeel. Medium-high acid, good length and plenty of texture. Well balanced to the end. Fantastic.

5. Merlot 2006
Slightly thin and bitter with green tannins. OK but not great. Quite rough mouthfeel. Would probably benefit from food.

6. Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
10% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
Ripe fruit aroma. Fine pixellated tannins. Plenty of ripe fruit. Some tobacco. Great length. Some savoury spice. Well balanced with a pleasant finish.

7. Cabernet-Merlot 2007
More austere than previous wine. Tannin feels rougher and some astingency on the palate. Needs food or time. Well structured but not as good as number 6.

8. Vergelegen Red 2003
Elegant. Pencil shavings, tobacco and soft tannin. Plenty of fruit on palate. Quite high but fine tannin. Very good. Great length and well balanced. This was the best wine of the night, but number 6 was pretty close.