Eden High Density Single Vineyard new releases

By , 30 August 2017

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4

When Bruwer Raats set about establishing 0.2ha of Cabernet Franc and 0.6ha of Chenin Blanc on his Polkadraai property during the mid-2000s, his point of departure was “quality by design” which saw him undertake the most rigorous soil preparation, careful selection of clones and high density plantings (1 x 1.2m – the equivalent of 8 000 vines/ha). The resulting wines are proving to be among the very best to have emerged in the modern era of the South African wine industry.

While the maiden 2014s were excellent (see here) but the newly released 2015s, which benefit from what many consider to be one of the greatest vintages of all time, are that little notch up. Tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2015
Price: R650
Matured for 10 months in three 300-litre barrels, one new, one third-fill and one fourth-fill. Top notes of fresh herbs, hay and spice before pear, peach and some leesy complexity. The palate shows astonishing fruit concentration, a lovely line of acidity and a pithy finish. Layers of flavour and great composure. That much more precise than 2014.

Editor’s rating: 95/100.

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Eden High Density Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2016

Epic.

Eden High Density Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2015
Price: R1 600
5% whole bunch fermentation. Matured for 8 months in new oak before a further 10 months in old oak. The nose is mesmerizing with notes of red and black fruit, a perfume which goes beyond floral and is almost musky, a fleeting note of mint, pencil shavings, earth and oyster shell. The palate shows incredible depth and length without being weighty and there is a real sucrosity to the fruit which is to say a sense of purity and juiciness rather than the presence of residual sugar. Masterful.

Editor’s rating: 97/100.

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Comments

4 comment(s)

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    Kevin R | 31 August 2017

    Hi Christian,

    If you feel like putting yourself out there… Considering their similar price points, would you prefer to receive a bottle of the Eden Cab Franc or a bottle of the Kanonkop Black Label, every vintage for the rest of your life?

      Christian | 1 September 2017

      Hi Kevin R, Impossible to answer! Both so good yet so inherently different. If I was stocking my own cellar and money was no object, I think the most desirable reds currently available are Columella, Leeu Passant Dry Red, Le Riche Reserve Cab, MR de Compostella, and Porseleinberg plus the two under discussion. This factors in all manner of possible purchase criteria from age-worthiness to potential value in the secondary market. Thanks very much for putting me on the spot!

    Kevin R | 31 August 2017

    That Cab Franc does sound epic!!

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