Radford Dale new releases

The Radford Dale team with irrepressible co-owner Alex Dale and the adroit winemaker Jacques de Klerk to the fore generally make wines of character and charm and arguably should have a higher profile among serious wine enthusiasts than they do. Tasting notes and ratings for upcoming new releases as follows:

Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2018
Price: R170
Grapes from three Stellenbosch sites, 30% from the Renaissance vineyard matured in older oak and the rest in tank. Top notes of potpourri and fynbos before stone fruit and cut apple on the nose. Wonderfully well balanced on the palate with great fruit concentration matched by bright acidity. Full of verve, this is cleverly put together.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Radford Dale Renaissance Chenin Blanc 2018
Price: R400
Grapes from a 1969 Helderberg vineyard. Citrus, stone fruit plus some leesy complexity. Super-rich on the palate despite an alcohol of just 12.5%. Thick textured and very flavourful, there is equally a good line of acidity and pithy finish. Plusher and less steely than its counterpart above.

CE’s rating: 93/100.    

Radford Dale The Revelation Chenin Blanc 2018
Price: R295
Labelled as W.O. Walker Bay, grapes for this come from a Stanford vineyard on sandy soil. The nose shows lime, lemon and green apple, dried herbs and a hint of reduction. The palate is light bodied with snappy acidity, the finish long and pithy – this is a wine that really crackles with energy. A particular and arresting take on the variety. Alcohol: 11.5%.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

Radford Dale Chardonnay 2018
Price: R295
From Stellenbosch fruit. A pronounced note of reduction plus citrus on the nose. The palate currently seems unknit – good richness of fruit but the acidity sits apart to the point of being seering (alcohol is 12.5%). Closed under screwcap, this may just need some time in bottle.

CE’s rating: 89/100.

Radford Dale Vinum Pinotage 2019
Price: R180
From Stellenbosch grapes, winemaking involved semi-carbonic maceration and fermentation in large old oak. The nose shows a floral top note before red cherry while the palate is light and bright with a gently savoury finish. A cheerful drop.

CE’s rating: 89/100.

Radford Dale Freedom Pinot Noir 2018
Price: R400
From Elgin fruit. Fermentation involving a combination of whole-berry and whole-bunch, maturation lasted 10 months in French oak, 10% new. A very enticing nose of with notes of musk, rose, herbs and red cherry plus the vaguest hint of earth. The palate is light bodied and super-elegant – pure fruit, zesty acidity and tannins that are fine yet grippy.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

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