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
‘It has a perfumed, tobacco, musk and gravel-scented bouquet, with the fruit profile erring more towards black than red, but still very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin and there is genuine complexity here, with the 10% stems lending freshness and tension. It gently builds in the mouth towards a black plum and cinnamon-tinged finish that is enthralling. This must constitute one of the best South African Cabernet Franc produced. Downside? There's just one barrel bottled as 40 magnums and around 200 bottles. Try and find one.’ - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Nov 2015)
‘There’s only one barrel of this single vineyard Cabernet Franc, made with the 214 clone and aged in a new and then a third fill barrel. Leafy, floral and complex, it’s the best expression of the variety yet from Bruwer Raats. Oaky, yet refined, this will age well in bottle. Drink: 2017-23’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2016, 94/100