95pts Vinous
Drinking Window 2024 - 2040
The 2020 Cabernet Franc Family comes from vines in the Skoonheid vineyard just up from Raat's house, undergoing a 30% whole bunch ferment to enhance its purity. This has a more opulent nose, far more fruit-forward than the Dolomite with layers of dark cherry, boysenberry and dried violet petal notes. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, an unerring sense of symmetry with great precision on the finish. Top class. - By Neal Martin on December 2021

93pts Decanter
Opens up quite beautifully in the glass with classy red and black berries infused with graphite. Lovey fluidity and freshness with good inky depth. Oak evident but not overbearing, well weighted palate, perhaps a bit warm, but classic with lovely balance overall. Nominated by Fiona McDonald. (Nov 2023)

93pts Wine Advocate
Opening with a voluminous nose of dark red fruits and layers of spicy pepper essences, the 2020 Family Cabernet Franc offers notes of sweet roasted red peppers and clove in the glass. Medium-bodied, it bursts with a dark cherry expression laced with notions of spiced plums before lively and complex herbal essences wade across the mid-palate with layers of complexity and juicy fruit essences. The wine is structured, balanced and complex, leaving me wanting a second and third sip. If you enjoy Cabernet Franc, you'll want to put this on your list. Only 8,700 bottles were produced after resting a year and a half in 25% new French oak barrels. Nicely done! - Anthony Mueller (Dec 2023)

Our Tasting Note:
The notes are based on 1 hour open in the bottle and the following day.  This made it FOUR days with a basic stopper!
Deep ruby red core, lighter ruby edges. A pronounced nose this shows the red fruits I find with great cabernet franc from Bordeaux and Tuscany: red currants, red cherry, and red raspberry. The nose also shows the graphite and cracked black peppercorns we usually find in cooler climate Cab Franc, much like in the Loire. Additionally red florals, and some subtle cedar and sandalwood spices add complexity. The palate is med/med+ in body, with medium grain, polished tannins. The palate shows ample and elegant acidity. The pronounced palate is dense with flavor, but also very elegant, refined and polished.  The finish is long, with the fruit and spice fanning out persistently. Excellent stuff!

• Region: Coastal Region
  
• District: Stellenbosch
  
• Ward: Polkadraai Hills
  
• Vineyard: Bluegum Grove and Skoonheid vineyards
  
• Soils: Decomposed dolomite granite sandy-loam, over granitic clay-loam and silt-loam, from 20- to 27-year-old vines
• Winemaking: Hand-harvested fruit is mostly destemmed and crushed (about 15% is left whole cluster). The fruit will undergo a cold soak for about 5 days in advance of alcoholic fermentation. The fermentation is in stainless steel with selected yeast at a target temperature of about 28C, and the total time on skins is about 10 days with gentle punchdowns once per day.
  
• Following a gentle pressing, the free run wine and press wine are blended together, and aged in 300 and 500L French oak barrels, 25% new for about 18 months.
• Alcohol: 14.0%