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Family Reserved Cabernet Franc 2022

Family Reserve Cabernet Franc 2022

Platter’s Cabernet Franc of the Year 2025

It is no secret that we love Cabernet Franc. Bruwer Raats has dedicated his life to mastering this noble variety with the first Raats Cabernet Franc released in 2001.  As one of the pillars of our brand, Family Reserve Cabernet Franc reigns supreme as one of our most beloved expressions of this noble variety.

Critically acclaimed, this wine is consistently ranked as one of the world’s best expressions of Cabernet Franc, and the 2022 vintage is no exception.It is therefore with great excitement that we decided to honour this proud legacy by adding RESERVE to the name of the wine.

Therefore the 2022 vintage will be the first vintage to be called Family Reserve Cabernet Franc.  Soon to be released globally, with only 2600 bottles produced, we give you our private club members, the first opportunity to add this brand new label to your cellar with this limited pre-release offer.Harvested at perfect ripeness from vines high up on the Vlaeberg mountain in Polkadraai Hills, in ancient decomposed granite soils, the grapes are hand sorted three times, crushed and left to cold soak on the skins wherafter it is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.

This wine pays homage to our roots of Polkadraai Hills and our dedication to this variety. See how our label has evolved over the last two decades with a close up of the 2022 vintage and an image of the original 2001 vintage still standing proud.  We can assure you that both these vintages are delicious to this day, emphasising the pedigree and ageability of this wine.

Regular price R 800.00

193 in stock

Wine Information

Aging Potential

Wine will drink even better in time and can mature more than 10 years if cellared correctly

Blend Information

100% Cabernet Franc

Food Suggestions

Rosemary rubbed grilled lamb chops or leg of lamb / tarragon chicken / duck breasts with cassis and raspberries / venison with blackberry sauce / flourless chocolate cake

alc 13.5 | ph 3.48 | rs 2.1 | ta 5.5

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.

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).

Tasting

The nose entices with its perfume and a garrigue character of Cape fynbos, rosemary, lavender and thyme with spicy notes of nutmeg, cloves and star anise. Intense brooding blackberry fruit, graphite and a streak of minerality add to the complexity of the nose

POLKADRAAI HILLS

Raats Family Wines was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of Polkadraai Hills as an official ward within Stellenbosch in 2007.  With its unique decomposed dolomite granite soils, proximity to the ocean and south facing slopes it allows for great depth of quality terroir, making itself known as producing some of the most exciting wines in the country. 

“What I was after was purity, freshness and lower alcohol levels.  This is precisely what the decomposed dolomite soils of Polkadraai Hills provides. Refined elegance and sophistication.  Classical winemaking at its best.” Bruwer Raats

Family Owned

Family-owned winery, crafting quality wines, nurtured from vineyard to cellar.

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