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Celebrations along the R44 11 August 2006
When I first met James Halliday, he scared me half to death. It was four years ago, he was one of the international judges and I just an associate in the Old Mutual Trophy Show (then Fairbairn). According to Oz show rules, associates know nothing – therefore their opinion is not valid, they only speak when they are spoken to … and act as ‘scribes’, that is, take notes about the wines during the judging process.
I now know better. And I’m not scared of James any longer. I saw him briefly in California and, if he didn’t recognise me, he didn’t let on. James, for those of you who don’t know him, is one of the most knowledgeable Australian judges and authors; and he has made just a little wine too. One of his highly respected books is the James Halliday Australian Wine Companion. In it he rates wineries, not their wines. The best wineries in his book score 5 stars.
Anyway, James and his book were the reason for celebration at The Winery’s offices on Stellenbosch’s R44 just a few days ago: James’s 2007 edition had rated Radford Dale 5 stars. In addition, he’d mentioned Radford Dale Eden Valley Riesling 2005 and 2003 ‘Best of the Best by Variety’. And, in his editorial, ‘Radford Dale is one of the 10 best new wineries’.
Radford Dale, for those of you who don’t know, is the partnership of Ben Radford (born in the Barossa Valley in Australia, on the left in the pic) and Alex Dale (born in the UK, raised in Burgundy and spending the best years of his life in Somerset West). Their various ranges are distributed through a holding company, The Winery.
That’s some kudos from some grand master of the wine industry, so well done to everyone at the Radford Dale team.