Founded in 2001, Raats Family Wines is focused solely on crafting world class Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, best known as the premier grapes of France’s Loire Valley. The boutique winery has quickly established itself as a New World leader in the production of these two varietals, garnering tremendous critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base. As Wine Spectator noted in a recent online feature, “South Africa’s Raats Family winery makes outstanding Chenin Blanc.” Proprietor and winemaker Bruwer Raats firmly believes that South Africa’s proliferation of older Chenin Blanc vineyards provides a unique opportunity to craft terroir-driven wines that serve as international benchmarks for the varietal. Raats owns several hectares of estate vineyards in the Polkadraai Hills and also sources Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc from several extremely low-yielding old vines parcels characterized by complex soils of sandstone and decomposed granite. Bruwer maintains complete control of viticulture at these sites, located at an average of 820 feet above sea level in the prime Bottelary Hills, Simonsberg and Blaauwklippen areas of Stellenbosch. The Raats Family range consists of five wines. The crisp, unwooded “Original” Chenin Blanc, whose name reflects the fact that there is no oak to mask its vibrant fresh fruit character, is packaged under screwcap. The luscious, partially barrel fermented and aged Chenin Blanc strikes a perfect balance between elegance and power, setting the standard for South African Chenin and rivaling the finest Loire Valley offerings. While Raats is best known for their sublime Chenins, Bruwer also crafts scant quantities of an exquisite Cabernet Franc that shows the heights this under-the radar grape can achieve in the hands of a master! Bruwer also produces Red Jasper, which portrays the varietal in a silky, luscious Bordeaux blend and Dolomite Cabernet Franc, a slightly lighter, less serious “little brother” to the flagship Cabernet Franc. For Bruwer, the greatest part of crafting wines under your own label is that “you don’t have to worry about shareholders or catering to a market, or to keeping within a cellar’s style. You can have freedom of expression in something that you believe in.” With his passionate belief in the classic, versatile and decidedly stylish varietals of Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, Raats continues to win over hordes of thirsty consumers worldwide!

VINEYARDS: The grapes for Raats Original Chenin Blanc are sourced from vineyards in Stellenbosch. The vines average 35 years of age. All of the vineyards are characterized by complex soils of either Table Mountain sandstone or decomposed dolomite granite. The vineyard sites are a combination of trellised and bush vines, irrigated and dry farmed. VINTAGE: Ideal weather conditions set the stage for exceptional quality wines in 2017. The days were warm but not hot, with none of the February heat waves typically experienced in the Cape. Cool nights during the ripening phase ensured good flavor and color development. Extremely dry conditions throughout the season resulted in very healthy grapes. Berries were small, with great fruit concentration. VINIFICATION AND MATURATION: The handpicked grapes were de-stemmed, crushed and pressed. The juice was cold settled for 2-3 days, then cold fermented in stainless steel and aged on its lees in tank for six months before bottling. Granite soils impart Chenin Blanc with crisp acidity and bright flavors of lime and minerals, while Chenin grown on sandstone soils takes on a softer, rounder texture and a lush tropical fruit and honey flavor profile. In order to accentuate these characteristics and create the proper balance in the finished wine, the grapes from the two soil types were vinified and aged separately and blended just before bottling. TASTING NOTES: Original Chenin is crafted without the use of any oak in order to preserve the wine’s “original,” vibrant fresh fruit character. Now in its 17th year of production, it boasts an unquestionable consistency in quality and style. The Original Chenin Blanc 2017 is a classic example of old vine Chenin Blanc grown in very specific soil types. Bursting with fresh fruit flavors, this lively wine shows a distinctive yellow apple and pineapple core, alongside notes of green melon and limes. The wine displays zesty citrus flavors and a long mineral finish.

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