Prestigious Family Wineries
Live Virtual Auction, 23 July 2023
Prestigious family wineries | Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Raats Family Wines and Savage Wines
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
‘Bruwer Raats’ high density Cabernet Franc only runs to 400 bottles - a single new barrel, in other words. It’s very, very young at the moment, a wine that should carry a “no entry” sign for at least two more years. Dense, yet refreshing, with lots of scented oak and a core of dark aromatic fruit. 2020-30’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 94/100
‘Piercing lifted perfumed notes of blueberry, cassis, violets, cherry blossom, cedar spice and liquid minerality all play at full volume. Real intensity of fruit, showing red cherry, kirsch liquor, powerful grippy tannins, delicious salinity and an impressively bold structure define this impressive wine, which simultaneously wears its elegance and finesse proudly on its sleeve. All the building blocks for greatness are present. This is certainly one of the most accomplished red wines conceived in South Africa and looks set to not only age extremely well but also improve in bottle for 15 to 20 years, and drink well for over 30 years. Well done Bruwer. A towering achievement in the context of fine wine.’ - Greg Sherwood, 97+/100 (Sep 2017)
‘The nose is mesmerizing with notes of red and black fruit, a perfume which goes beyond floral and is almost musky, a fleeting note of mint, pencil shavings, earth and oyster shell. The palate shows incredible depth and length without being weighty and there is a real sucrosity to the fruit which is to say a sense of purity and juiciness rather than the presence of residual sugar. Masterful.’ - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 97/100 (Aug 2017)
'From 0.2 ha Stellenbosch vineyard (8,000 vines/ha), masterly 2015 exudes understated power, elegant & pure yet succulent. Red fruit & spice perfumes, hint fynbos, precise grape & oak tannin balance.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2018, 5* (95/100)
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