Vergelegen, V, Stellenbosch 2018

Seller: Mhilge 5

2018 Vergelegen V

Vergelegen V 2018 is the estate’s flagship, Cabernet-led Bordeaux-style red from the Helderberg side of Stellenbosch. It is a serious, age-worthy collector’s wine—especially notable as the final release under V’s familiar labelling. Wine profile Blend: 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot; some retail listings describe it simply as Cabernet Sauvignon, but the estate’s release confirms the blend. Origin: Vergelegen’s Stone Pine IV vineyard on Schaapenberg’s west- to northwest-facing inland slopes, in Glenrosa and Hutton soils, with a maritime but relatively sheltered climate. Winemaking: Hand-picked and double-sorted fruit; 28-day post-fermentation maceration, then 16 months in French oak and 24 months’ bottle maturation before release. Technical details: 14% alcohol, pH 3.72, total acidity 5.6 g/l, residual sugar 2.9 g/l. Tasting and drinking window Expect a deep ruby, classically structured red with spice, dark chocolate, cedarwood, blackcurrant/cassis, and fine, well-integrated tannin. The estate describes it as pure, fresh, and vibrant in youth, with capacity for up to 20 years’ further bottle maturation; a sensible cellaring horizon is roughly 2028–2038, with earlier bottles likely showing more primary fruit. The 2018 South African drought produced smaller berries and lower yields, but concentrated colour and flavour—helpful conditions for a structured, long-lived Cabernet blend. Collectability Production: 600 cases, making it relatively scarce for a flagship South African red. Release price: R1,800 per bottle from the estate at launch in February 2024. Critical signal: The 2018 was reported at 95 points from Tim Atkin, and V has a strong reputation in comparative tastings of international Bordeaux blends. Verdict This is a compelling drink-later South African flagship: more polished and age-worthy than a standard estate red, with genuine provenance, limited production, and a 15–20-year window.