Raats Family Wines, Original Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2021

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

From vineyards with an average age of 35 years. Vines are grown in both decomposed granite and Table Mountain sandstone soils. A combination of trellised and bush vines, irrigated as well as dry land that yield approximately 7 – 8 tons per hectare.

Winemaking

Grapes grown from the two soil types are fermented separately, the decomposed granite bringing a lime and mineral character, while the sandstone more topical fruit and structure. The juice was cold settled for 2 to 3 days, then cold fermented (14º - 16ºC) in stainless steel tanks and aged on the lees for 6 months before bottling. No wood ageing.

Oak Ageing

No oak ageing

Tasting Note

100% Chenin Blanc, this has a distinctive yellow apple and pineapple core, alongside notes of green melon and limes. The wine is bursting with fresh fruit flavours ending with zesty citrus flavours, and has a long mineral finish. A very clean and satisfying hand-picked Chenin Blanc that's a versatile wine for food pairing.

Food Matching

An easy to pair wine since it has a wide flavour profile, but we especially recommend it with curry or similar spicy dishes as well as sushi and oysters.

Awards

Tim Atkin South Africa Report 2022 91 Points
Bruwer Raats makes 60,000 bottles of this textbook unwooded Chenin Blanc from the Polkadraai Hills. Wonderfully fresh and granitic, it's a pithy, jasmine and green apple-like white with crunchy acidity and the structure to develop further in bottle. 2022-27. 91 Points, TA, September 2022.
Vinous 92 Points
The 2021 Chenin Blanc Original has a well-defined bouquet that gets both hands on the grape variety: yellow fruit, popcorn and pressed flowers. Good intensity. The palate is beautifully balanced, complexity with Clementine, white peach, hints of kumquat and stem ginger. It fans out wonderfully on the finish - just a Chenin from the top drawer. 92 Points, NM, August 2022.