Raats Family Cabernet Franc 2011

This sexy, über elegant Cabernet Franc shows the stunning heights this grape can attain! It combines a core of luscious blackberry, black cherry, and plum with expressive notes of cinnamon, tobacco, coffee, and spice. Silky tannins caress the palate, and hints of dark chocolate and a great minerality. This wine has a long and supple finish.

Pork Loin with plum and Armagnac sauce. Beef Fillet with Truffle sauce. Game bird with red wine sauce. Any Springbok, Ostrich or Kudu.

variety : Cabernet Franc [ 100% Cabernet Franc ]
winemaker : Bruwer Raats / Gavin Bruwer Slabbert
wine of origin : Stellenbosch
analysis : alc : 14.0 % vol  rs : 3.3 g/l  pH : 3.42  ta : 6.4 g/l  
type : Red  style : Dry   wooded
pack : Bottle  size : 0  closure : Cork  

AWARDS
  • Scored 93 points by Tim Atkin (July 2014).
  • Rated 5 stars in John Platter 2014.
  • Scored 90 points The Wine Enthusiast (March 2014).
  • Scored 90 points by The Wine Spectator (Jan 2014).
  • Scored 92 points by Neal Martin from Robert Parker (Oct 2013).
  • 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

    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. Neither fined nor filtered.

    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).
    Neither fined nor filtered.

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