Raka Biography Klein River Shiraz 2008 88 Points

www.rakawine.co.za


Clear, day bright, ruby cherry red with slight garnet rim. Very good color still for a 2008 Shiraz, considering that the majority from other wards, districts and regions have turn into garnet by now.

Clean, high intensity, ripe plums, blueberries, cassis, complex red berry note, earthy, delicate black Darjeeling tea, subtle oaking, lending vanilla, mocha, dark chocolate with spicy black pepper and cinnamon dust.

Dry with medium plus acidity, fresh, savory, black olives note, salty minerals, delicately juicy, spicy structure, plush tannins, crunchy, excellent extraction, more Syrah than Shiraz in profile, elegant, high alcohol though (14%) but well integrated,with enough fruit to support, kind of a Crozes Hermitage and Cotes du Rhone Villages, medium plus lenght and medium plus complexity.
Now until 2020

Looking back at the last 9 years or since the maiden vintage, it is relevant to note that Raka have consistently produce one of South Africa's best new wave Shiraz with a solid track record, getting it almost "right" every vintages.

It is a producer that have not catches up with the wine drinking public as yet, perhaps due to the fact they were the first to grow vines in the Klein River Ward, a tiny enclave within the Cape South Coast Region, possibly overshadowed by established neighbouring wineries of Walker Bay, Hemel en Aarde, Upper Hemel en Aarde and Hemel en Aarde Ridge, but consumers and wine lists decision makers should be aware that it is one of the best value Shiraz out there, at nearly half the price +/- R 100 P/B of the supposedly big guns from more recognised and fashionable areas, besdies what was describe above but also from other areas.