RAATS FAMILY WINES, EDEN HIGH DENSITY CHENIN BLANC, STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA, 2016
The wines fresh and delicate yet inviting nose displays peach blossom, greengage, lime, green apple, white peach, pineapple, ginger, angelica and peppery spiciness. The palate shows notes of quince, granadilla, kumquat, mandarin orange, melon, pear and lemon-meringue against a backdrop of steely minerality. Hints of roasted hazelnuts and almonds add to the complexity of the palate. The wine is exceptionally linear and fresh with a fine texture and finishes with notes of fennel and the ginger spiciness promised by the nose.
Food Pairing
Enjoy with oysters, bouillabaisse, scallops or other seafood, or even slow roasted pork belly.
Producer Profile
Bruwer Raats is a gentle giant of a man and his reputation is starting to match his stature. His mastery of chenin blanc and cabernet franc is bringing him praise from around the world as "the most exciting and forward thinking winemaker" in Stellenbosch.
As part of the new wave of South African winemakers, Bruwer crafts soil specific wines that embody the unique characteristics of the region. With hand harvesting, whole bunch pressing and using natural fermentation without fining or filtering it helps him create wines that are world class.
Viticulture
Decomposed Granite soils planted at 8000 vines per hectare planted around 8 years ago and trained in an individually staked trellis system at 8000 vines per hectare. Grapes were hand harvest during the second week of February. All grapes are from the Raats Eden High Density single vineyard block in Polkadraai, Stellenbosch.
Winemaking
Grapes were whole bunch pressed and no settling took place. It went straight to barrel for a natural fermentation. The wine was kept on its lees for 11 months in 300L tight grained French oak.
Oak Treatment
Time: 11 Months
Type: French
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: 50
Technical Details
Varieties: Chenin Blanc 100%
ABV: 14.5%
Closure: Natural cork
Colour: White
Style: Still wine
Case Size: 6 x 75cl