The older the vine, the lower the yield, the more flavourful the grape, the truer the wine. But in the age of engineered fruit, stem cells and by extension, quite possibly actual human beings; one might argue that the strongest genetic material, planted in optimum conditions, might produce a perfect crop the first time around.
Bruwer Raats of Raats Family Wines put this theory to the test, cherry-picking Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc clones (his signature varietals), to plant in the aptly named Eden Farm Vineyard in Stellenbosch. In his trademark pioneering spirit (having been one of the first to make single-varietal Cabernet Franc) he told Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth back in 2013: “No one in Stellenbosch had done it this way before, so I had to try.” And try he did - successfully so given the scores. The selected clones were individually staked in high-density single vineyards on decomposed granite dolomite soil – essentially leaving nothing to chance.
The Eden High Density Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2015 received 94 points from Tim Atkin and 97 from Christian Eedes. While the Eden High Density Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2015 received 94 points from Tim Atkin and 95 points from Christian Eedes. The scores themselves to do not prove the theory however, as you know, it's up to you.
Try something truly 'new', no?
