Raats Family Wines, Mvemve Raats, MR Vesperi, Polkadraai Hills, South Africa, 2023

Producer Profile

After making wine around the world and honing his craft in the Cape, Bruwer Raats established Raats Family Wines in 2000, based on a policy of ‘excellence through specialisation’, focusing on two unfashionable grapes varieties at the time, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

Purchasing the only land he could afford, some relatively cheap and ‘undesirable’ plots in the Polkadraai Hills, it soon became apparent that the unique granite-based terroir was producing some incredible wines, and is now recognised as one of the finest wards in Stellenbosch. His Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, and the iconic MR de Compostella hold a place as some of South Africa’s finest wines and sit comfortably amongst the best expressions of the varieties on the planet.

Viticulture

Vines are situated on decomposed Granite Soil in Polkadraai Hills ward, grown in a trellis style as a vertical hedge.

Winemaking

The grapes are all harvested by hand and placed in a chiller overnight before being processed the following day, allowing each component to ferment separately. The Chenin Blanc is aged in concrete, while both the Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc are destemmed, undergo skin fermentation for up to seven days, are basket‑pressed, and then matured in older French oak barrels for nine months. After nine months of ageing on the lees, the team conducts a blind tasting—mirroring the selection process used for MR de Compostella—to identify the finest individual components, which are subsequently blended in the cellar. The wine is then left to settle naturally for approximately two months before racking and bottling.

Tasting Note

"Vesperi" (The Evening Star!). The cuvée presents a lovely bouquet with lemon curd, French patisserie, egg whites and light waxy scents. The palate is very well balanced, with a touch of spice on the tensile entry. Notes of orange rind, apricot and meringue fan out nicely toward the fresh, textured, slightly honeyed finish that beckons you back for more.

Food matching

Wild Oysters, Crayfish, White Fish, Veal, Semi hard cheeses.