Raats Old Vine Chenin Blanc · Stellenbosch, South Africa · 2009

The Moment

This is the bottle that reminds you why you slow down for wine in the first place. It’s opened intentionally — maybe after dinner, maybe when the conversation gets quieter — when curiosity replaces noise and you want to taste something that’s lived a little.

What It Feels Like

The nose is layered and expressive, opening with sweet pea, honeysuckle, and orange blossom, then drifting into ripe nectarine, melon, white peach, and quince. As it opens, subtle spice emerges — ginger, fenugreek, and white pepper — followed by a quiet, unmistakable wet chalk minerality.

On the palate, the wine is rich but lifted, showing flavors of yellow apple, pineapple, lime zest, and green melon. The texture is fine and elegant — almost peach-melba in character — carried by vibrant, still-alive acidity that keeps the wine focused and energetic. The finish is long, clean, and mineral-driven, tapering from fruit into gentle spice and citrus.

Perfect For

• Thoughtful dinners, slow nights, or post-meal conversations

• Roast poultry, mushroom dishes, aged cheeses

• When you want complexity without heaviness

The Vibe Pairing

• Playlist energy: Late-night jazz, vinyl soul, reflective acoustic

• Aura color: Warm parchment, stone, honeyed gold

• Time of day: Nightfall → deep evening

Why We Love It

This is old-vine Chenin doing what it does best — balancing power, grace, and time. It’s proof that freshness and age aren’t opposites, and that texture can be quiet, composed, and deeply compelling.

Floral & Expressive · Still White