Raka Wine - 23 May '23
On the 23rd of May Jorika Visser of Raka visited us. It is our first tasting with Jorika, but was a fantastic tasting with Piet’s daughter, gaining insight to how the farm functions and how the family make this lovely farm really special! Jorika’s knowledge of the farm, its lovely wines and all the people on the farm, made this tasting a totally amazing evening. The following is the tasting, the taster’s comment and the scores.
1. Happiness Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc NV
Colour- light green to golden rim. Nose- citrus, kiwi fruit, celery, pawpaw, pineapple. Palate- crisp acidity, pineapple, melons, citrus, kiwi fruits, with citrus lingering to the finish.
Score- 16.08.
2. Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Colour- light green. Nose- citrus, nougat, grapefruit, pineapple, guava, melon, apple. Palate- crisp acidity, guava, asparagus, pineapple which lingers to the finish.
Score- 16.15.
3. Spliced 2021 (28% Shiraz, 18% Sangiovese, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 12% Pinotage, 8% Cabernet Franc, 8% Malbec, 2% Viognier)
Colour- inky dark red with slight gradation to a brownish red rim. Nose- floral, toffee, red cherry, black berries and cherries, cassis. Palate- crisp acidity, cassis, black berries and cherries, soft tannins, toffee, coffee, chocolate and plums.
Score- 16.58.
4. Sangiovese 2019
Colour- inky dark red with slight gradation to brown rim. Nose- red and black cherries, spices. Palate- crisp acidity, soft black fruits, cassis, black currants and cherries, spice, sundried tomatoes, tobacco, coconut, almonds, this wine changed the whole time.
Score- 16.77.
5. Quinary 2019 (46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 10%Malbec)
Colour- inky dark red with no gradation to clear rim. Nose- vanilla, coffee, toffee, marzipan, black berries and cherries. Palate- crisp acidity, marzipan, red and black fruits, black cherries, toffee, lingering berry finish.
Score- 17.39 (21st best wine tasted for 2023, out of 155 wines tasted).
6. Pinotage 2020
Colour- inky dark red with no gradation to a pink rim. Nose- plum, black and red fruit. Palate- crisp acidity, firm tannins, plum, black cherries and berries, full bodied, needs time or food, lingering cherries on the finish.
Score- 17.46 (tied 14th place for 2023, with the 8th wine in this tasting).
7. Figurehead 2019 (39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 15% Pinotage, 13% Cabernet Franc, 8% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot)
Colour- Colour- inky dark red with no gradation to a red rim. Nose- plum, cassis, black berries and cherries, tobacco, earthy, marzipan. Palate- crisp acidity, firm but soft tannins, cassis, marzipan, black berries and cherries which linger to the finish, young needs time.
Score- 16.92.
8. Biography Shiraz 2019
Colour- Colour- inky dark red with no gradation to a clear rim. Nose- smoked game meats, smoke, spice, pepper, black cherries and berries. Palate- crisp acidity, spice, pepper, black cherries and berries, savoury, black cherries on the finish.
Score- 17.46.
Wow, what a tasting, with amazing wines. Jorika you sure did spoil us, thanks for an amazing informative tasting, with gorgeous, well priced wines! Raka wines are extremely good value for such brilliant quality. We look forward to seeing Jorika back at Vats, thanks again!