Description
Lucky us! A very rare opportunity for those who know! We have found and secured some extra bottles of the 2015 MR, so here is fortuitous final opportunity to purchase South Africa’s most compelling and prolific wine! Growing in legendary status since its first vintage in 2004, not only is MR the most coveted South Africa red wine, it also has great historical significance, as the wine symbolizes the friendship and first collaboration of a certified, professional black African winemaker with a white winemaker since apartheid.
Bruwer Raats has noted the similarity of the 2015 vintage of MR with one of the greatest MR’s ever produced – the 2009 (WA 96). He calls the 2015 vintage “one of the most highly anticipated vintages in SA history.” Commenting further on the 2015 vintage of MR, Bruwer Raats states, “The 2015 growing season was earmarked by unusually cooler growing conditions and a smaller crop than usual. Due to the longer ripening period the wine shows beautiful red and black current fruit with a complex, but extremely elegant structure. The MR de Compostella 2015 reminds me a lot of the 2009 vintage with great freshness, purity packed in a very elegant manner. The wine has great maturation potential.”
Have no doubts, if you are unaware, Mvemve Raat’s has gained world class status. The 2015 MR just received another rare 5 Star rating from South Africa’s all knowing and authoritative wine “bible”, the 2018 Platter’s Guide. Raats Family Wines was also named Winery of the Year for South Africa! Tim Atkin, the conservative English wine critic (a worthy subscription), and Master of Wine has rated the 2015 MR with 96 points. And fellow Master of Wine, Greg Sherwood rated the 2015 even higher at 98 points and called it “Ground breaking” and “Epic”. And although we are waiting for the all important Wine Advocate/Robert Parker/Neal Martin rating, know that ALL MR vintages from this source since 2008 have scored in the 94 to 96 point range. The intriguing aspect about MR is every vintage, since its inception in 2004, is a different, but harmonious blend of Bordeaux varietals. The wine is a dead ringer for Premier Grand Cru Classe A/B St. Emilion or a top tier Pomerol at a pittance of the price one would be required to pay for the same exceptional quality.
Reviewing; the blend for the 2015 MR is 41% Cabernet Franc, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Malbec, 14% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot. Each varietal is fermented independently and is aged for 12 months in a regime of French oak 1/3 new, 1/3 twice filled, and 1/3 three times filled. After analysis, blind assessment, and blending based on the strength of each varietal, the wine is returned to same barrel program for an additional 12 months of aging before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.