Raats Family Wines, Mvemve Raats, MR Vesperi, Polkadraai Hills, South Africa, 2023

Producer Profile

After making wine around the world and honing his craft in the Cape, Bruwer Raats established Raats Family Wines in 2000, based on a policy of ‘excellence through specialisation’, focusing on two unfashionable grapes varieties at the time, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.

Purchasing the only land he could afford, some relatively cheap and ‘undesirable’ plots in the Polkadraai Hills, it soon became apparent that the unique granite-based terroir was producing some incredible wines, and is now recognised as one of the finest wards in Stellenbosch. His Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, and the iconic MR de Compostella hold a place as some of South Africa’s finest wines and sit comfortably amongst the best expressions of the varieties on the planet.

Viticulture

Vines are situated on decomposed Granite Soil in Polkadraai Hills ward, grown in a trellis style as a vertical hedge.

Winemaking

Grapes are all hand harvested - left in a chiller overnight - then processed the following day to further ferment separately. Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc are whole bunch pressed and settled overnight before racking takes the wines to their fermentation vessels. Chenin Blanc ferments and ages in some concrete and older oak while the Sauvignon Blanc is fermented and aged in newer French oak. The Semillon is destemmed and then fermented on skins for up to 7 days - before it is pressed in a basket press - the wine is pressed to oak barrels where the wine then further ferments and ages. After 10 months aging on lees - like with the MR de Compostella selection process - they choose the best individual components in a blind tasting then blend the chosen ferments together in the cellar. The wine then naturally settles for about 2 months before racking and bottling the wine.

Oak Ageing

Time: 10 Months

Tasting Note

"Vesperi" (The Evening Star!). The cuvée presents a lovely bouquet with lemon curd, French patisserie, egg whites and light waxy scents. The palate is very well balanced, with a touch of spice on the tensile entry. Notes of orange rind, apricot and meringue fan out nicely toward the fresh, textured, slightly honeyed finish that beckons you back for more.

Food Matching

Wild Oysters, Crayfish, White Fish, Veal, Semi hard cheeses.