2021 Raats Family Mvemve-Raats MR de Compostella
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A blend of five varietals, well known in South Africa as a Cape Blend, this 2021 MR Compostella consists of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 17% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. This rendition has lovely aromas of blueberries, black cherry, violets and vanilla beans. There is a clean, refined entry that is very neat and fresh, with finely tuned minerality upfront that moves onto a lovely refined mid-palate of juicy, succulent black fruit with stunning fine-grained tannins that boast impressive length.
Critic scores
Tim Atkin MW
Greg Sherwood MW
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The Mvemve Raats 2021 Stellenbosch De Compostella is a blend of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 17% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. The idea is to create a constellation of stars found in a galaxy. Production is 8,000 bottles. The oak regime sees 25% new oak, 25% second-fill barrel, 25% third-fill barrel and 25% fourth-used oak. This is a big and bold red wine that is rich in tannins and fruit weight. Black fruit is the protagonist, with subtle nuances of green herb, rosemary and red rose in supporting roles. Mvemve Raats has crafted a thickly concentrated and modern wine.
The 2021 MR de Compostella is blended from five components of five Bordeaux varieties from parcels deemed the best for each one, a selection made in the winery to create the final blend, which is then assessed for whether it deserves to be released. It has a lovely floral bouquet with pressed iris flowers, black cherries, clove and light potpourri scents. The medium-bodied palate has fine tannins, fresh and tensile with layers of minerally black fruit and a very Bordeaux-like, precise finish that lingers in the mouth. As usual, this MR has a wonderful sophistication and will mature gracefully over the next 20 years.
The latest MR de Compostella confirms the wine's standing as one of the best red blends in the Cape, especially in a vintage like 2021. It’s a beautifully structured, nuanced cuvée with violet and pencil shaving aromas, subtle wood, plenty of underlying power and structure and a youthful, refreshing finish.