Prestigious Family Wineries
Live Virtual Auction, 23 July 2023
Prestigious family wineries | Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Raats Family Wines and Savage Wines
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About this Item
Specialising in Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc, Raats Family Wines was established by Bruwer Raats at the turn of the millennium. He believes the secret to his Cabernet Francs success is that they are old vines grown on decomposed dolomite granite. This belief was not unfounded, as today, Raats Family Wines is regarded as a leader of South Africa’s Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, receiving consistent local and international accolades. Early vintages are elegant, refined and still remarkably young today.
The Eden High Density Single Vineyard is the heart of Raats Family Wines. The finest expression of Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc, Eden High Density Single Vineyard wines, has globally achieved cult wine status.
The Eden High Density Single Vineyard Project originated from the deep passion for mastering Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc. In 2004 Bruwer fell in love with a small piece of land in Polkadraai Hills Stellenbosch, called Eden, realising the potential of this tiny pocket of neglected pure decomposed dolomite granite. For four years, he worked tirelessly using site-specific techniques to restore the soil quality through conservation agriculture, integrated nutrient management and continuous vegetative cover to create optimal conditions conducive to creating ultra-premium wines. He then searched for the best low yielding clones to secure maximum flavour concentration and, in 2009, planted the first high density vineyard in South Africa. With 8 000 vines per hectare, he planted only 0,6 hectares of Chenin Blanc and 0,2 hectares of Cabernet Franc in the now revered Eden block. These vines are left to flourish with minimum intervention and a stringent selection process. The Eden vineyard was created with extreme precision viticulture as a key focus, and the results are clear.
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Critics Ratings
'Masterly 2016 off 0.2 ha vineyard planted to 8,000 vines/ha. Typical varietal leafiness reined in, perfumed black fruit supported by 100% new oak (18 months). Follows stunning debut 2015.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2019, 4.5* (94/100)
‘This small but perfectly formed Cabernet Franc vineyard is only 0.2 hectares in size, but what flavour and complexity it delivers. Made with 20% whole bunches, it’s wonderfully leafy and aromatic, with rose petal and graphite scents, serious, sinewy tannins and the concentration to age. 2020-28’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2018, 94/100
‘The 2016 Eden High Density Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc offers a mixture of red and black fruit infused with white pepper, sage and brown spices. It feels a little broody at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin and supple in the mouth, offering fresh, pure, lightly spiced black fruit laced with cassis, red plum and veins of brown spice. The finish is very well defined and feels long in the mouth, completing a splendid Cabernet Franc whose only downside is its paltry 300-bottle production.’ - Neal Martin, Vinous, 93/100 (Aug 2018)