Highlights: Raats Family Chenin Blanc & Cabernet Franc vertical

Because they’re tied to a retailer’s selection box, I usually bin wine vouchers.   Not so with the £60 Naked Wines voucher that came with my Top Hot theatre tickets.  Knowing that they list Bruwer Raats‘ excellent Cape Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc, how could I resist?  My personal selection of Raats Original Chenin Blanc 2011 and Raats Family Cabernet Franc 2009 arrived yesterday.

I was particularly excited to discover that Naked Wines listed the 2009 Raats Family Cabernet Franc.  Together with the vintages either side, it was one of my stand outs at a vertical tasting Raats presented at Cape Wine last September.  And while the younger Cabernet Francs held most appeal, it was the opposite with the Chenin Blanc – my picks were the 2005, 2004 and 2000 (all of which saw more oak than subsequent years).  Here are my notes on said vintages and click here for my note on Mvemve Raats de Compostella 2008, the excellent Bordeaux blend Raats makes with Mzo Mvemve.

Raats Family Chenin Blanc 2005

A salty, fresh nose with stone fruits on the palate, especially apricot, with attractive nutty development.  Well balanced.

Raats Family Chenin Blanc 2004

This is really nutty, with calisson/marzipan notes and a salty and mineral, fresh undertow to its waxy stone fruits.  Good weight and texture yet fine, with a long, lingering finish.

Raats Family Chenin Blanc 2000

Really complex and still so alive, with hints of iodine/kelp (the next stage of salty development?) and dried herbs to its waxy, peachy fruit.  Long and still going strong!

Raats Family Cabernet Franc 2010

A lovely, perfumed, floral nose shows delicate, cinnamon-dusted sweet plum.  In the mouth, it’s youthfully tight with a firm but fine ripe acid and tannin structure behind its fleshy black plum fruit. Spicy coriander seed adds lift to the finish. Youthful, yet poised.  Very good. 14%

Raats Family Cabernet Franc 2009

There’s a real charge of fine powdery tannins to this wine – very Loire – as are its notes of lead pencil and dried roses and hint of fresh capsicum.  Long, lithe and textural with bell clear plum and black cherry fruit.  Very good. 14.5%

Raats Family Cabernet Franc 2008

Less perfumed but fleshier and more sensual than the following vintages.  In the mouth, the 2008 is looser knit, spicy and lifted with cinnamon, five spice and cedar-edged blood plum, red cherry and berry fruit, a hint of capsicum too.  Relatively accessible, though firm but ripe tannins bode well for mid-term cellaring.  14%