Established in 2015, the new label concentrates on cool climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay – quite a significant departure from Raats’ traditional focus of Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc. This venture has taken the winemaking duo on a vinous journey of discovery looking for unique vineyards and special terroir.
The 2015 B Vintners Black Bream Pinot Noir (Walker Bay Terroir Special) topped Wine Spectator’s list of top twenty eye-opening wines in the country. Molesworth scored the wine 93 points and described it as “gorgeous with light cinnamon, black tea and powdered star anise notes inlaid into a streamlined and silky core of crushed cherry and raspberry fruit.”
The B VINTNERS Fire Heath Chardonnay (Walker Bay Terroir Special) scored 91 and impressed with its “delicious creamy feel, with alluring creamed peach, yellow apple and green almond notes with well-embedded acidity.” Both the 2015 Haarlem to Hope (Stellenbosch), a blend of Chenin Blanc, Sémillion and Muscat d’Alexandria, and the Reservoir Road Pinot Noir scored 90 points.
According to Gavin Bruwer Slabbert, they are on a quest to celebrate the wine heritage of the Cape of Good Hope. “We explore unique vineyard parcels to craft distinctive terroir specific wines from historic Cape varieties. We believe that heritage helps us to better understand where we have come from and guides our decisions to lead to a future of hope. It is certainly gratifying that our vision is being recognised on a global level,” mentions Slabbert.
The rest of the top 20 line-up also included the 2016 Raats Original Chenin Blanc (91) and the 2014 Raats Old Vine Chenin Blanc (90).
For more information, visit www.bvintners.com