Raats

Dolomite Cabernet Franc

8.841 ratings
8.910 pro ratings
South Africa
Cabernet Franc
Exotic Spices, Baking Spices, Hard Cheese, Blue Cheese, Chili & Hot Spicy, Pungent Cheese, Potato, White Rice, Herbs, Tomato-Based, Pasta, Mushrooms, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Beef, Soft Cheese, Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Pork, Duck, Venison
Top Notes For
Fredrik Finn

Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2017. Stands tall with a fresh fruit profile, distinct character and a certain dimensional complexity. Fresh red and black fruit is backed by a well dosed portion of herbs, chili fruit and a vague savoury stonniess. Good balance and lenght but lacks the intensity for further entertainment.

Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2017. Stands tall with a fresh fruit profile, distinct character and a certain dimensional complexity. Fresh red and black fruit is backed by a well dosed portion of herbs, chili fruit and a vague savoury stonniess. Good balance and lenght but lacks the intensity for further entertainment.

Jan 17th, 2020
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Dolomite translates to decomposed.

The nose has bright, ripe cassis. Blackberries, blue and purple fruits, black raspberries and poached strawberries. Dark, rich earth, a little vanilla & caramel, soft wood notes, light leathery quality, black licorice, dark berry cola, understated granitic soils with bright, blue, purple and red fresh florals.

The body is round, lush and near full. The powder, dry, dusty, meaty, tarry and sticky tannins. Nice structure, tension, length and balance. Easy to drink early but, better in five years. The fruits are bright and ripe. Blackberries, blue and purple fruits, black raspberries and poached strawberries. Dark, rich earth, a little vanilla & caramel, soft wood notes, light leathery quality, dry tobacco with ash, black licorice, dark berry cola, understated granitic soils with bright, blue, purple and red fresh florals. The acidity is like a river. The finish is ripe and well balanced.

Photos of; the view from their tasting room, lots of beautiful original artworks from famous local artists...a few of them the Uncle of our host, examples of some of the soil structures around their tasting room vines and their upstairs tasting room.

Dolomite translates to decomposed.

The nose has bright, ripe cassis. Blackberries, blue and purple fruits, black raspberries and poached strawberries. Dark, rich earth, a little vanilla & caramel, soft wood notes, light leathery quality, black licorice, dark berry cola, understated granitic soils with bright, blue, purple and red fresh florals.

The body is round, lush and near full. The powder, dry, dusty, meaty, tarry and sticky tannins. Nice structure, tension, length and balance. Easy to drink early but, better in five years. The fruits are bright and ripe. Blackberries, blue and purple fruits, black raspberries and poached strawberries. Dark, rich earth, a little vanilla & caramel, soft wood notes, light leathery quality, dry tobacco with ash, black licorice, dark berry cola, understated granitic soils with bright, blue, purple and red fresh florals. The acidity is like a river. The finish is ripe and well balanced.

Photos of; the view from their tasting room, lots of beautiful original artworks from famous local artists...a few of them the Uncle of our host, examples of some of the soil structures around their tasting room vines and their upstairs tasting room.

May 13th, 2019
Meg Herring

Very very savory and herbaceous. Lots of roasted poblano peppers. Quite floral too. The fruit comes later.

Very very savory and herbaceous. Lots of roasted poblano peppers. Quite floral too. The fruit comes later.

1 person found it helpfulOct 12th, 2018
Stephen Bonner

Interesting antipodean CF. medium-bodied with savoury herbs, black cherry, red plum, chocolate, and leathery notes.

Interesting antipodean CF. medium-bodied with savoury herbs, black cherry, red plum, chocolate, and leathery notes.

1 person found it helpfulOct 12th, 2016
Jay Miner

Black pepper, plum, tart cherry. Very tannic. May have benefitted from another few years.

Black pepper, plum, tart cherry. Very tannic. May have benefitted from another few years.

1 person found it helpfulDec 12th, 2015
Chris Regina

Smoky, traditional South African loam, plum, black cherry, and cassis. Very smooth

Smoky, traditional South African loam, plum, black cherry, and cassis. Very smooth

1 person found it helpfulJul 31st, 2015
Felix Warners

Not really bad but not something I drink for pleasure. Great for a wine course though because its tres cab franc.

Not really bad but not something I drink for pleasure. Great for a wine course though because its tres cab franc.

1 person found it helpfulApr 25th, 2015
Bruce McGechan

Savoury smoky wine, good length, not too fruity

Savoury smoky wine, good length, not too fruity

1 person found it helpfulOct 19th, 2013
Stefan Aichner

A light and cheerful cab franc. A pleasure, smooth and classy.

A light and cheerful cab franc. A pleasure, smooth and classy.

1 person found it helpfulDec 20th, 2012
"Odedi"

From last evening's Delectable meetup. Great wine with great new friends.

Beautiful ruby in color with medium intensity and a light ruby rim.

Earthy nose of blueberries, cherries, licorice, oak, vanilla, barnyard, earth, bell pepper, spices, dark chocolates, smoke, peppermint, red candy and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Tart on the attack, and dry on the palate, with blueberries, cherries, licorice, raspberries, light tobacco, pomegranates, earth, leather, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Tart finish with medium tannins and tart cherries.

An interesting Cabernet Franc from Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Simple, but pleasurable, especially with food. Unbalanced and needs an hour to open up properly and show some tannins.

An additional year in the bottle would be suggested.

Thank you, Sharon, for sharing this with me.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

From last evening's Delectable meetup. Great wine with great new friends.

Beautiful ruby in color with medium intensity and a light ruby rim.

Earthy nose of blueberries, cherries, licorice, oak, vanilla, barnyard, earth, bell pepper, spices, dark chocolates, smoke, peppermint, red candy and black pepper.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and nice legs.

Tart on the attack, and dry on the palate, with blueberries, cherries, licorice, raspberries, light tobacco, pomegranates, earth, leather, pencil lead and peppercorn.

Tart finish with medium tannins and tart cherries.

An interesting Cabernet Franc from Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Simple, but pleasurable, especially with food. Unbalanced and needs an hour to open up properly and show some tannins.

An additional year in the bottle would be suggested.

Thank you, Sharon, for sharing this with me.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

Nov 22nd, 2016