Raats Family Cabernet Franc 2015

The nose entices with its perfume and a garrigue character of Cape fynbos, rosemary, lavender and thyme with spicy notes of nutmeg, cloves and star anise. Intense brooding blackberry fruit, graphite and a streak of minerality add to the complexity of the nose. The palate is dominated by blueberry, mulberry, brambles, dark cherries, liquorice and the aniseed and other spices following through from the nose. The palate is complex and textured with fine grained silky tannins balancing the dark berry fruit. Blue- and blackberries dominate the smooth finish with hints of dark chocolate.

Rosemary rubbed grilled lamb chops or leg of lamb, tarragon chicken, duck breasts with cassis and raspberries, venison with blackberry sauce, flourless chocolate cake.

variety : Cabernet Franc [ 100% Cabernet Franc ]
winemaker : Bruwer Raats & Gavin Bruwer Slabbert
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 14.0 % vol  rs : 3.1 g/l  pH : 3.37  ta : 6.2 g/l  
type : Red  style : Dry   wooded
pack : Bottle  size : 750ml  closure : Cork  

AWARDS
  • 2015 - scored 90 points in the Wine Spectator Review (April 2018).
  • 2015 - scored 90 points by Christian Eedes from Winemag - Alternative Varieties Report (Feb. 2018).
  • 2015 - scored 93 points by Wine Enthusiast (April 2018).
  • 2015 - 5 Star John Platter (2018).
  • 2015 - scored 93 points by Tim Atkin SA Report (Sep 2017).
  • 2015 - scored 94 points by Christian Eedes from Winemag (Sep 2017).
  • 2014 - scored 93 points by Neal Martin from The Wine Advocate (May 2017).
  • 2014 - scored 94 points in Winemag by Christian Eedes (Nov 2016).
  • 2014 - Rated 4½ stars John Platter (2016).
  • 2013 - scored 93 points by Neal Martin from The Wine Advocate (Dec 2015).
  • 2014 - Grand Cru 1st Place winner at the TOP 100 SA Wine Challenge (2017).
  • 2014 - Double Platinum winner at the TOP100 SA Wine Challenge (2017).
  • 2014 - TOP100 SA Wines (2017).
  • 2014 - 4½ stars John Platter 2017
  • 2014 - scored 94 points by Christian Eedes from Winemag (Nov 2016).
  • 2013 - scored 93 points by Neal Martin from The Wine Advocate (Dec 2015) .
  • 2013 - Rated 4½ stars John Platter (2016).
  • 2012 - scored 4½ stars by Perswijn Magazine 16/7 (November 2016).
  • 2012 - scored 94 points by Tim Atkin (2015) 
  • 2012 - scored 92 points by Stephen Tanzer (June 2015) .
  • 2012 - TOP100 SA wines in (2015).
  • 2012 - scored 91 points by Neal Martin from The Wine Advocate (Oct 2014) .
  • 2012 - scored 95 points by Christian Eedes from Winemag ( Oct 2014) .
  • 2011 - scored 93 point by Tim Atkins (July 2014) .
  • 2011 - Rated 5 stars in John Platter (2014).

ageing : 7 to 10 years

in the vineyard : Soil Type: 100% Decomposed Dolomite Granite.
Age of vines: 18 - 25 years.
Trellised vines and no irrigation.

All from Stellenbosch and grown only on decomposed dolomite granite, which gives a great acidity and freshness to the wine and adds minerality to the finish.

about the harvest: Picking Date: Individual vineyard blocks each hand-picked at perfect ripeness the last week in February till the first week in March.

Grape Sugar: 24° - 25° Balling
Acidity: 6.0 g/l
pH at Harvest: 3.45
Yield: 6 - 7t/ha

in the cellar : Grapes were hand sorted three times, crushed and left to cold soak on the skins for five days. After fermentation the grapes are basket pressed and allowed to undergo malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks and then aged for 18 months before bottling.

Fermentation Temperature: 28°C

Wood Ageing
18 months in French Vicard and Mercury oak barrels (25% new, 25% second, 25% third fill and 25% fourth fill).

find our wines in :

OTHER VINTAGES

Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc