Raats Family Wines, Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2015, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Tasting Note: Medium-intensity lemon in color this wine has a nose of green apple and baking spice.

On the palate the dry, medium-plus bodied chenin blanc has flavor concentration and mid-palate complexity supported by medium-intensity vanilla and medium acidity.

The wine also has a creamy mouthfeel.

Bottle Note: This wine is a first for chenin blanc in South Africa in many respects. It is made from the Montpellier clone which fell out of flavor in the late 1970’s for all the reasons why pioneer Bruwer Raats loves working with it: its small berries, loose bunches and low yields. He managed to secure cuttings from the mother block in the Nuy Valley just before it was ripped out and created the first high density, single vineyard wine ever to be released in South Africa. He planted it on decomposed dolomite granite, which lends to the wine a certain minerality (some say a wet stone character) and its unique citrus fruit flavors of fresh lemons and limes. Only 1,176 bottles were produced.