Bruwer Raats at our Autumn Tasting Solihull

September 07, 2012

Solihull's Autumn Tasting was a great success this week, thank you to all those involved. The feedback back we received from guests was fantastic, many of whom had never attended a Connolly's Tasting before, and some who had never been to a wine tasting at all before.  

We were delighted that the winemaker himself Bruwer Raats was available to show his wines and talk to our guests, many of whom had not had the opportunity to meet a winemaker before. I was lucky enough to have a few spare minutes to taste Brewers’ wines which were extremely well received.

Raats Original Chenin Blanc

Beautifully structured and well balanced, complex notes including apply, pineapple, melon, lime and a delicious minerality on the finish. A really lovely Chenin, living up to its reputation.

Raats Family Old Vine Chenin Blanc

Hand picked grapes from vines with an average age of over 40 years.  

20% of the wine is fermented and matured in 300 litre French Oak barrels. 80% fermented in stainless steel, then after 9 months, the two components are blended together and left on the lees for a further 7 months before bottling.

The result is a luscious, honeyed Chenin with pear, stone fruits, citrus and hints of ginger. It rich but with a lovely well balanced acidity and crisp citrus fruits that lift palate. A great Chenin with ageing potential through to around 2019.

Raats Cabernet Sauvignon

This is a limited production Cabernet that Bruwer has made specifically for UK. That begins with a touch of earthiness, giving way to pure blackcurrant fruit, then a touch of tobacco and mint. The palate was very delicately balanced, not your powerhouse fruity Cabernet, but a really elegant style.

Raats Family Cabernet Franc

This is Raats signature wine, and what a wine. I am delighted to report that it really does live to it's up. Raats tasting notes for this wine are as follows:

"This sexy, uber-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".

I very much concur with that.

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