Raats Chenin Blanc 2000

ageing : 

Best after 2 to 4 years.

Soils are sandy loam over a gravel and clay layer. Southwest slopes are situated on the Bottelary Hills near Kuils River in the Stellenbosch region. Cool temperatures are ensured with a location just 5km from False Bay, where the Atlantic meets the Indian Ocean. This 25 to 34-year-old vineyard rests on a low trellis system.

After severe pruning to ensure a minimum crop, the grapes were thinned out before harvest to remove any unripe or malformed bunches. The crop was harvested ripe at high sugar levels.

After clarification, one portion of the juice was fermented in barrel while another was tank-fermented in stainless steel. The 25% that was fermented and matured in 100% new French barrels, was blended with the remaining wine before bottling.

There were 380 6 - bottle cases of Raats Chenin Blanc 2000. This wine is sold out. Future vintages (from 2002) will include both a wooded Raats Chenin Blanc and an unwooded Raats Original Chenin Blanc.