Raised by Wolves La Colline Semillon 2017

Adam Mason of Mulderbosch makes his own wines under the Raised by Wolves label and as the name might suggest, the range is hardly mainstream. Tasting notes and ratings for the current releases as follows:

Raised by Wolves Newlands Meunier 2017
Made from Pinot Meunier in a Blanc de Noir style. Very pale orange in colour. Some floral fragrance before vague notes of cherry and apple. The palate is light bodied with fresh acidity and a pithy finish, the overall impression being of a particularly delicate and understated wine.

Editor’s rating: 88/100.

Raised by Wolves Muscat Blanc 2017
Winemaking involving 10 days of carbonic maceration and then oak matured. A heady, IPA-like nose with plenty of floral fragrance, grapefruit, litchi and melon. The palate displays juicy fruit upfront before a bone-dry finish. Crazy cool.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

Raised by Wolves Driehoek Chenin Blanc 2017
A complex nose with notes of hay, citrus, apple and peach plus some leesy complexity. Very concentrated fruit, driving acidity and a pithy finish – really intense and completely delicious.

Editor’s rating: 94/100.

Raised by Wolves 777 Chardonnay 2017
777 refers to the altitude of this vineyard on Tierhoek in Piekenierskloof. Matured for nine months in French oak, 20% new. Lime, lemon and green apple plus a hint of vanilla and some leesy complexity on the nose. The palate is light with arresting acidity and a very pithy finish.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

Awoo!

Raised by Wolves La Colline Semillon 2017
From a “very old” Franschhoek vineyard. A very expressive and appealing nose of hay, pear, peach, quince, apple, herbs and a certain talcum powder-like quality. The palate is broad yet not particularly rich or thick textured with tangy acidity and a very savoury finish. Seamless and super-delicious.

Editor’s rating: 96/100.

Raised by Wolves La Colline Semillon – Rooi Groen Druif 2017
From the small portion of Semillon Gris that the La Colline vineyard produces. Made using carbonic maceration, the wine having a “burnished copper” hue. Very fragrant with notes of grapefruit, cherry, red apple, pink sweets and a certain earthiness. The palate shows concentrated fruit, fresh acidity and some tannic grip – it’s lean and savoury and has plenty of geek appeal.

Editor’s rating: 92/100.

Raised by Wolves Old School 2016
Two-thirds Cinsault from a 1965 Helderberg vineyard, one-third Cabernet Sauvignon from Bonniemile. Some floral fragrance before cherry and cranberry on the nose. Light-bodied with super-fresh acidity and fine tannins, the finish nicely savoury – immensely appealing if not super-complex.

Editor’s rating: 89/100.

Raised by Wolves Bonniemile Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
A very attractive nose of cassis and fresh herbs while the palate is lean and fresh with gently grippy tannins. Lovely drinkability – refreshing and more-ish. Reminiscent of “claret” from yesteryear.

Editor’s rating: 89/100.

All wines have an approximate retail price of R250 a bottle.

Find our South African wine ratings database here.