Radford Dale The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2017
By Christian Eedes, 24 April 2019
Several new releases from Radford Dale are coming to market, tasting notes and ratings as follows:
Radford Dale Thirst Clairette Blanche 2018 – 87/100
Price: R155
Flowers and citrus on the nose with some reductive pong in the background. Light and fresh on the palate.
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2017 – 90/100
Price: R150
Lovely aromatics – a floral top note before citrus and peach. The palate shows clean fruit, zippy acidity and a pithy finish.
Radford Dale The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2017 – 93/100
Price: R395
Grapes from a 1969 Helderberg vineyard. A shy nose with hints of citrus and peach plus a little waxiness. The palate has plenty of fruit concentration despite an alcohol of just 12.5% and nicely coated acidity. Layers of flavour, the finish long and savoury.
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2017 – 92/100
Wine Cellar price: R290
Top notes of blossom and herbs before lime and lemon and a pleasant note of reduction. The palate is lean (alcohol: 11.5%) with vibrant acidity and a pithy finish. Somewhat angular but very striking.
Radford Dale Thirst Gammay 2018 – 88/100
Price: R155
Strawberry, herbs and spice on the nose while the palate is well balanced with generous fruit, fresh acidity and nicely grippy tannins. Properly smashable.
Radford Dale Freedom Pinot Noir 2017 – 91/100
Wine Cellar price: R390
A hint of reduction before red and black cherry, roses and spice. Juicy fruit, bright acidity and very fine tannins on the palate – immensely likeable but perhaps not the most structured vintage.
Radford Dale Black Rock 2016 – 90/100
Price: R395
From Swartland fruit, a blend of Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Viognier. A slight rubber-like note to go with plenty of berry fruit and spice. The palate displays moderate acidity and soft tannins – balanced, accessible but not massively complex.
Radford Dale Syrah 2015 – 92/100
Price: R295
A compelling nose of lavender, pepper and spice to go with red and black berries on the nose. The palate is marked by great fruit expression, lively acidity and fine tannins, the finish long and dry. Rhône enthusiasts will find this very more-ish. From Stellenbosch grapes, an uncompromising take on the variety.
Radford Dale Nudity Syrah No. 16 (No Added Sulphur) – 92/100
Price: R395
This vintage unclassified by the Wine and Spirit Board on account of being “turbid and hazy”. Black fruit, lilies and earth on the nose while the palate is light-bodied with lemon-like acidity and fine tannins, the finish particularly savoury. Has a lovely energy about it.
Radford Dale Vinum Pinotage 2018 – 88/100
Price: R160
Cherries and plums on the nose. Juicy and fresh on the palate – Beaujolais like and fun to drink.
Radford Dale Frankenstein Pinotage 2016
Price: R395
Originally tasted in December 2017 where it rated 95/100, this remains a favourite recent example of the variety. Red and black cherries, floral perfume and earth on the nose. The palate possesses both clarity and density of fruit with vibrant acidity and crunchy tannins – super stuff.
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