Raats Family Wines, Eden High Density Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2020

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

All grapes are from the Raats Eden High density single vineyard block in Polkadraai comprising of decomposed dolomite granite. Grapes were hand-picked at 22, 8⁰ Balling during the third week in February.

Winemaking

Bunches were hand-sorted. 20% went whole into an open-tank fermenter. The rest were destemmed and lightly crushed on top of the bunches. One punch down was done per day for a very gentle extraction. Natural fermentation took place after which grapes were basket-pressed. The wine spent 12 months in a new 300 L French oak barrel and a further 6 months in a fourth fill French oak barrel.

Oak Ageing

Time: 18 Months
Type: French
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: 75

Tasting Note

The nose shows lively dark berry fruit and Morello cherries with hints of star anise, ground fennel seeds and cedar. The wine is exceptionally linear and precise, yet lithe and elegant. The complex dark berry fruit follows through from nose to finish with a minerality that reflects the 100% decomposed dolomite granite of the soil. The wine is characterized by its amazing concentration derived from the extremely low yielding single vineyard.

Food Matching

Roast lamb, loin of venison, ostrich carpaccio, beef fillet with a red wine reduction, duck with plum sauce and game fish.

Awards

Tim Atkin South Africa Report 2022 96 Points
There is only a single new barrel of this intense Cabernet Franc from a high-density parcel of the 214 clone, located right next to Bruwer Raats' home, but what a wine it is. Racy and elegant, with some tobacco leaf notes from 15% whole clusters, bramble, cassis and redcurrant fruit and fine coffee bean oak. 2024-32. 96 Points, TA, September 2022.