Radford Dale new releases

Last year marked the 25^th anniversary of Radford Dale being in business and there’s much excitement in the camp about their recently acquired 100% organic estate in Elgin. Their Terroir Selection with grapes sourced principally from Stellenbosch should not be ignored, however, with new vintages of Renaissance Chenin Blanc and Frankenstein Pinotage set to be launched soon. Tasting notes and ratings as follows:    

Renaissance Chenin Blanc 2022
Price: R499
Grapes from a Helderberg block planted in 1970. Five different pickings; a small portion left on the skins for two days; fermented and matured for 10 months in old oak; 25% undergoing malo-lactic fermentation. Peach, lemon, naartjie and some leesy complexity on the nose while the palate appears slightly less angular than some previous vintages – good fruit weight matched by tangy acidity, the finish gently savoury and faintly pithy in texture. Alcohol: 12%. No 2021 made.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Frankenstein Pinotage 2021
Price: R499
Grapes from a Helderberg vineyard planted in 1989. Berries left whole, fermentation involving carbonic maceration in 600-litre barrels and foudre. The nose shows red and black cherry, violets, herbs and a wild, slightly meaty quality. The palate is lean and fresh (alcohol is 11.5%) with a very dry finish. Lighter Pinotage is to be celebrated but this is hard-core…

CE’s rating: 90/100.

Frankenstein Pinotage 2022
Price: R499
Red and black cherry plus a hint of floral perfume on the nose. The palate has nice clarity and weight of fruit, well integrated acidity and powdery tannins. Alcohol is 13% and this hangs together that much better than the previous vintage.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

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