Longridge wine estate and winemaker Jasper Raats continue to impress wine connoisseurs both locally and abroad. Within the past month, renowned wine critics Tim Atkin and Jamie Goode have both been highly complementary of this Helderberg estate and its extraordinary wine portfolio.
Acclaimed critic Tim Atkin mentioned Jasper specifically as “one of the winemakers, who are achieving remarkable things in South Africa” in his recently published South Africa 2015 Special Report. Applauding the Longridge Clos du Ciel Single Vineyard Chardonnay as one of the wines that celebrate the diversity of Stellenbosch, he listed it amongst his top white wines of the year.
Five wines crafted by Raats and winemaker Hendrien de Munck also made it into Atkin’s “The Best of the Cape” listing according to his personal selection based on specific wine styles. Recognising Chardonnay as fast becoming a speciality at Longridge, Atkin gave a score of 95 to the 2013 Clos du Ciel Chardonnay and a 93 to the 2014 Longridge Chardonnay. In addition, he included the 2012 Longridge Ekliptika (92 points) as well as two wines from the Jasper Raats Single Vineyard Range, namely the 2014 Driefontein Sauvignon Blanc (92 points) and the maiden vintage 2013 Driefontein Syrah (92 points) to this prestigious selection.
The exciting new direction Raats has taken and the quality of wines currently produced at Longridge made a particular impression on Jamie Goode of wineanorak.com during his recent visit to South Africa. Having reviewed the wines produced both under the Longridge label and the Jasper Raats Single Vineyard range, the UK-based wine journalist did not score a single wine lower than 90 points.
Top scores of 94 points went to the ultra-premium wines in the collection – the 2013 Longridge Ou Steen Demi-Sec, a single vineyard Chenin Blanc, the 2012 Longridge Ekliptika, a Cabernet Franc driven Bordeaux blend as well as the single block 2013 Longridge Clos du Ciel Chardonnay.
Jasper’s own 2014 Driefontein Sauvignon Blanc 2014 – harvested from a 1-hectare organic vineyard – scored 93 for its “lovely texture, elegance and amazing finesse” while the 2014 Cuvée Rika Pinot Noir scored 92 for its “sleek, textured palate with nice spiciness, subtle herbiness and textural complexity”.
“It is always encouraging when wine writers of this calibre recognise the quality of your wines. Since starting at Longridge, we have made particular shifts in our farming methods and winemaking style and it is fantastic to see the hard work and risks in the vineyards and cellar paying off,” mentions Raats.
