Raats Family Wines, Dolomite Cabernet Franc, Raats, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2018

Producer Profile
Bruwer Raats is a gentle giant of a man and his reputation is starting to match his stature. His mastery of chenin blanc and cabernet franc is bringing him praise from around the world as "the most exciting and forward thinking winemaker" in Stellenbosch.
As part of the new wave of South African winemakers, Bruwer crafts soil specific wines that embody the unique characteristics of the region. With hand harvesting, whole bunch pressing and using natural fermentation without fining or filtering it helps him create wines that are world class.
Viticulture
The grapes come from Stellenbosch and are grown only on decomposed dolomite granite soils. This lends itself to great acidity, freshness and an extended mineral finish. Individual vineyard blocks were hand-picked at perfect ripeness during February.
Winemaking
Grapes were hand sorted three times, crushed and left to cold soak on the skins for five days. After fermentation at a temperature of 28°C, the grapes were basket pressed before malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks.
Oak Ageing
Time:
14 Months
Type:
French 300 litre
% wine oaked:
100
% new oak:
None
Tasting Note
Dolomite wines express great purity of fruit and balanced elegance. The nose shows dark and red cherry. Dark berries, spiciness and herbs linger on the palate. The wine has great purity of fruit with a hint of wet-stone minerality and a velvet soft finish.
Food Matching
Great with Game Bird with Red Wine Sauce, Beef Fillet and Pork Loin
Cabernet Franc 90%
Malbec 10%
13.5%
Closure
Screw cap
Colour
Red
Still wine
Case Size
6 x 75cl