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John Platter Wine Guide, 2008 Edition
4* Radford Dale Merlot 05 - A silky elegance, complexity & charm. Template of vareity’s potential: violet & blackcurrent perfume, black pepper & scrub shading to the fine-grained tannins. Nudges next star level.
4* Radford Dale Shiraz 05 - Sashayed back to New World after glorious rhône-toned 2004 (4½*) showed plenty dark fruit, oak spices & smoky liquorice tones.
5* Radford Dale Gravity 05 Wonderfully perfumed spice, creamy dark fruit, tapenade, but there’s power under the seductive appeal, good tannin backbone for a long, rewarding evolution.
4* Radford Dale Shiraz-Viognier 05 - Co-fermented, accounting for integration, harmony . Brambleberries, earthy notes, with hovering fragrant lift from Viognier.
4* Radford Dale Shiraz-Merlot 06 - (barrel sample) owes more to Shiraz than merlot, moorland scrub, brambleberries, pepper dusting, with firm tannins busy melding. Well constructed, great potential.
4½* Radford Dale Chardonnay - Meticulous vineyard selection & cellar care. Trademark deep-seated peach & citrus intensity in 06’s intro but the palate is what distinguishes this chard: a fine boned burgundian savouriness.
4* Radford Dale Viognier - Ex barrel 07 already demanding attention with aromatic, floral bouquet, while oak works its magic on palate: savoury biscuit, peach pip austerity, perfect for food.
4½* Black Rock Red Blend 2006 - (Shiraz / Carignan / Grenache / Mourvedre / Viognier) S. Rhône-inspired exotic blend, individual & compelling. Shiraz-led ’06 doesn’t falter: violets, dried herbs, campfire smoke and crushed blueberries. The trademark lithe tannins welcome participation; this is pure hedonism.
4* Black Rock White Blend 2006 - (Chenin Blanc / Chardonnay / Viognier)
Majority blend 40 yr old bush vine chenin. With chard, dash viognier, 06 almost overpowers with a peach/preserved melon and citrus intensity. Gloriously tangy, food-friendly, thanks to enlivening acidity, oak influence.
4* Vinum Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - New World styling, is crammed with same delectable cassis, dark choc, sweet spice flavours as 04, but is riper, reflecting vintage, for drinking sooner. No hardship here.
4* Vinum Chenin Blanc 2006 - shows how well good Chenin develops: citrus peel to the fore over tropical core, vein of acidity keeps everything fresh, lively.
3* The Winery of Good Hope Chenin Blanc - Exceptionally drinkable and well priced. Crammed with palate-awakening crunchy pear freshness, 2007 is quaffability personified.
4½* The Winery of Good Hope Pinot Noir 2006 - Underbrush & red berry flavours, hints of violets, captured in a fine-honed structure.
3½* The Winery of Good Hope Pinotage - strikingly individual 2006 is dark-fruited & savoury, cloves & black pepper spiced, with variety’s trademark juicy palate. Tannins now well melded.
3* The Winery of Good Hope Granite Ridge Reserve 2006 - is a smooth textured charmer: black pepper, smoked beef nuances to plumy fruit, aromatic lift from dash Viognier
3* The Winery of Good Hope Chardonnay 2006 - Unoaked chard with character. Has deepened peach & tropical tones, the same fresh-fruity mouthfeel.
3½* The Winery of Good Hope Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay-Viognier - Original blend, aromatic 2006 focuses on juicy drinkability, showing the citrus & peach, buttered toast perfume, flavours of its admirably compatible partners.
2½* New World Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot - Quaffability the key in 06 all smooth edges, plum & black cherry flavours.
3* New World Sauvignon Blanc – Cooler fruit gives quality leap, exuberant gooseberry & lime freshness, friendly 12.5% alc.