R685.00
This Reserve Red is intense, well-structured with some sweet vanilla spices, savoury, muscular tannins, bramble, plum and black cherry flavours with the backbone to age in bottle.
Click here to download the Cuvee Rika Reserve tasting note
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Jasper Raats Wines released a unique and limited new wine on Monday, the 23rd of September 2024, where Jasper explained the background to this wine. When he made wine in New Zealand he wanted to make a Marlborough Pinot Noir that was not the typical light and fruitier style, but
something with more body and complexity. He achieved that by creating the Koru Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, the most expensive Pinot from Marlborough at the time.
When he came back to Stellenbosch, he decided to again start his own brand, and his range is known for its superior quality and creativity. However, each of his wines started with a personal story that shines through in each wine’s label, variety and style.
Cuvee Rika Pinot Noir’s fruit was originally from Elgin, this continued for a few vintages, but it wasn’t exactly what he was looking for and he wanted total control of the vineyard. So, ten years ago, after detailed research, he planted a 1 ha block on the slopes of the Helderberg mountain. With False Bay only 5km away (as the crow flies), he was convinced that the fruit from this site would one day be used to create the wine he envisioned for the Cuvee Rika label.
The 2021 Cuvee Rika Reserve was a fun project for Jasper where he wanted to push the boundaries of Stellenbosch Pinot Noir to recreate the intensity and body of Koru. A few rows in the block were selected where the vineyard practices were focused on creating concentration in the berries. Jasper says that this is the secret that gives the Cuvee Rika Reserve it’s intense flavour and colour, with firm but velvety tannins that are more filling than what you would expect from a South African Pinot Noir. With that said, this wine still has a smooth finish and is incredibly well balanced. Jasper described it as an ‘iron fist in a velvet glove’.
Cuvee Rika is dedicated to Jasper’s mom and ‘Rika’ also means ‘a little piece of Africa’ and that is
exactly what you are getting in this bottle of biodynamic wine. The unique label also encapsulates some family history and the story of their bond.
Download the story in PDF format HERE
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Aroma Profile
This Reserve Red is intense, well-structured with some sweet vanilla spices, savoury, muscular tannins, bramble, plum and black cherry flavours with the backbone to age in bottle.
Terroir
Rooted in the oldest viticulture soil in the world, it is made up of decomposed granite on the lower slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. This vineyard enjoyed the refreshingly cool breezes from False Bay (Atlantic Ocean) during the day and cool air at night flowing down the mountain, resulting in even ripening of the berries and good natural acidity. The macro climate is maritime, with cold wet winters and sunny warm summers, with the Helderberg Ward being the coolest in the Stellenbosch region.
Viticulture
The vineyards are meticulously cared for by hand. The crop is reduced to ensure maximum quality. Organic and biodynamic practices are employed by not using any pesticides, herbicides or chemical spray.
This wine has been naturally fermented in open top fermenters with no enzymes, preservatives, or stabilizers before being aged in seasoned French oak barrels for 24 months. Organic certified.
Origin
Stellenbsoch
Winemaker – Jasper Raats
Alc: 14.5% ; RS: 1.1 g/l ; TA: 6.2 g/l ; pH: 3.5
Download the tasting note
Click here to download The Cuvee Rika Reserve tasting note
