PLATTER GUIDE 2010
Alex sneaking a crafty taste of the 2009 Radford Dale Gravity
from 600L barrel...
Painting of Gravity by Swedish Artist Claus Håkansson.
4½ Stars Freedom Pinot Noir: Unfiltered satin-textured 08 fresh, alluring & expressive; richly textured fruit, minerality & supple savoury tannins from 10 mths Burg brls. WO Elgin
4 Stars Shiraz 2006: (not retasted) espresso, black plums, ground pepper captured within silky, juicy structure, ensured drinking pleasure. Unfined / filtered. 14 mths mostly Fr, 40% new
4½ Stars Gravity Shiraz (50%), cab & merlot drip-drained to large vats for gutsy 06, giving dense fruit-packed wine, supple polished tannins. 15% alc in keeping with big, brooding style; too young to broach now, despite suaveness. Perfumed 05 (5 Stars)
4 Stars Shiraz-Viognier: co-fermented, harmonious 06 had smoky dark tones of full-ripe fruit; viog added aromatic intrigue. Smooth-textured from careful oaking.
4 Stars Shiraz-Merlot: 06 offers scrub, brambleberries & pepper, & firm tannins. Well constructed, great potential
4½ Stars Chardonnay: ‘Focused on backbone, not butter’ says Alex Dale of classy barrel-fermented 08. Intense citrus, peach flavours with lime edge drawn by mineral backbone & shot through with fine, savoury acidity.
4 Stars Viognier: Distinctive 08 achieves aimed-for tighter, leaner Condrieu style with stylish lees complexity & minerality driving exotic spices & dried peaches. Striking 07 (4½) also Rhône yeast & Burgundy barrels.
4½ Stars Natural Sweet Viognier: 07 assaults the senses with pineapple & lavender aromas, mouthcoating richness, satin texture & ultra-long finish.
***** |
Superlative. A Cape classic |
****½ |
Outstanding |
**** |
Excellent |
***½ |
Very good/promising |
*** |
Characterful, appealing |
**½ |
Good everyday drinking |
** |
Pleasant drinking |
*½ |
Casual quaffing |
* |
Plain and simple |
½ |
Very ordinary |
No Star |
Somewhat less than ordinary |
Bruce Jack column, Personal Finance review.
South Africa
SOUTH AFRICA, CAPE BLENDS, December 2009
89 Radford Dale 2006 Gravity (Stellenbosch); $50.
Alex Dale’s Burgundian sensibilities keep the Radford Dale line poised and pretty, and this blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Shiraz and Viognier is no exception. On the nose, smoked sausage, fennel, rich red berries and spice; on the palate, the wine offers ample fruit but is backed by a clean minerality
that weaves it all together in a neat package. Imported by Vinnovative Imports. —S.K.
RADFORD DALE CHARDONNAY 2008
The Winery of Good Hope on the fringes of Stellenbosch is better known overseas than it is in South Africa-a great pity. They live their credo of passion, quality and individuality and it shows in every wine they produce-from the ‘anything but humble’ Winery of Good Hope wines to the stylishly packaged Radford Dale range. The ebulliant, fun-loving MD, Alex Dale cut his ‘ wine teeth’ in the cellars of Burgundy and it shows in their classy Radford Dale Chardonnay. The flavours here are simultaneously refined and striking with the crisp lime freshness and sleek minerality playing off the riper peach and apricot intensity. With its perfect fruit-oak balance and intense depth it is irresistible now and will certainly improve with maturation.
CELLAR PRICE: R125
TASTE MAGAZINE, SOUTH AFRICA. Christmas 2009
The Radford Dale Freedom 2008 is the second vintage of WOGH’s flagship Pinot. 100% Elgin fruit from older vines, it bitch-slaps you with huge elegance in a velvet glove and remarkable flavour concentration. A successor to the brilliant 2007 which is now boasting a Burgundian farmyard pong, volumes are up by an order of magnitude, from two to twenty one barrels. And all this for the same price, R220 a bottle.
The Sunday Times, Pendock Uncorked
8 April 2009,
South Africa
The Winery of Good Hope
By Stephen Tanzer
MAR/APR 09
2007 Radford Dale Chardonnay Stellenbosch - 89
($20) Pale, bright yellow. Musky aromas of dusty peach, citrus fruits, minerals and curry powder. Dense and bright in the mouth, with a chewy texture to the pungent stone fruit, mineral and smoky oak flavors. Savory but not particularly sweet. Finishes broad, suave and firm.
2006 Radford Dale Shiraz/Viognier Stellenbosch - 89
($25) Red-ruby. Aromatic nose offers smoke, pepper and flint. Sweet, concentrated and harmonious, with a distinctly Old World smokiness dominating primary fruits. A firmly tannic yet suave style of shiraz, finishing with fine-grained tannins and very good length. (In comparison, the 2005 Shiraz bottling seemed much more exotic-almost like an Australian shiraz-and was fatter and a bit aggressive on the palate.)
2005 Radford Dale Gravity Stellenbosch - 89
($60; 62% shiraz, 19% cabernet sauvignon, 16% merlot and 3% viognier) Ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate lifted by a whiff of eucalyptus. Juicy and penetrating but suave, with minty lift to the dark fruit and black olive flavors. Boasts an insidious sweetness as well as a green component. Finishes with an element of chocolate mint. This one needs time in bottle.
BUSINESS DAY, 8 April 2009
Michael Fridjhon
It is impossible to separate preference from aesthetic judgement: you can compensate for your known biases but at best you are applying an adjustment factor to balance out the result. American uber-critic Robert Parker likes intensely flavoured, plush red wines. He tacitly admits to not fully understanding appellations whose hallmarks are delicacy and finesse. He no longer focuses on Burgundy, in whose nuances and understatements he has more than once stumbled into a minefield. He is clearly more comfortable rating old vine Shiraz from Barossa or applying his 100 judging system to the super-ripe reds of Napa.
At a recent tasting I was presented with two wines which were stylistically completely different. The one was the 2006 vintage of Alex Dale's Gravity, the 2005 of which won a Platter five star accolade. The other was Martin Meinert's 2005 Cabernet. It was easy to see why the Gravity is such a successful wine: made with Shiraz (50%), Cabernet (30%) and Merlot (20%) in what is called an “international” or “New World” style – hyper-ripe fruit, sumptuous textures, plump and polished, it was a Strasbourg goose of wine. It exudes a sense of molly-coddled luxury: you KNOW you are getting a bottle jam-packed with fruit and flavour, with care and craft. There's almost no need to look at the label to know that it packs a not inconsiderable 15% alcohol – you don't get that weight and clout from shaded canopies and early harvesting.
The Meinert is not as immediately attractive: it is less showy, without the rich intensity of taste and texture upon which the Gravity has defined itself. There is more than a hint of leanness, restraint, almost austerity to Meinert's Cabernet, and this has more to do with the source of fruit and the winemaking than the dedicated use of Cabernet. To make the Gravity you need the right – very healthy – fruit. Only then can you push ripeness levels to the hilt, extracting maximum colour and tannin in vinification, building texture with oak, and then “buffing” the wine prior to bottling.
It comes as no surprise to find that the Meinert is 13.5% - a full 10% less alcohol than the Gravity. It is more savoury, less accessible, harder work at present though easier to consume: the Gravity is impressive, the Meinert (for me) more interesting. Both producers knew what they were doing and both are clearly satisfied with the result.
Both styles are legitimate – but it is impossible to assess them without taking account of stylistic preferences. Dale's formula works very well for him: his Winery of Good Hope has consistently been among the country's more successful super-premium exporters and its partnership with Australia's Yalumba business is a tribute to this achievement.
Meinert, Vergelegen's first (modern) winemaker is perhaps better known for his role in producing the Forrester Meinert Chenin Blanc (FMC) widely regarded as one of the top wines made from this varietal in the Cape. His reds – the Synchronicity, for example - are infinitely less showy: they generally don't garner prizes but they have a loyal following among people with a more “Old World” or “classical” frame of reference.
Both sell, which shows that their producers have correctly read the expectations of the market. Nevertheless, they are as different as a Volvo is from a Porsche Cayenne. They can be described, and even reviewed. You can have a perfectly happy time test-driving them both but only you know which one you'd rather take home.
Posted: Friday, March 13, 2009
These wines were tasted for the South Africa report in the April 30, 2009, issue
of Wine Spectator magazine.
Pinot Noir Stellenbosch Radford Dale 2007 88 $40
Shiraz Stellenbosch Radford Dale 2006 88 $19
UK : Matthew Jukes’ Top 50 South African wines
10th February 2008
Radford Dale Viognier, The Winery of Good Hope, Stellenbosch, 2007 - £16.00
100% Viognier
Alcohol: 13.5%
Stockists: Les Caves Pyrene
Importers: Les Caves Pyrene (T: 01483 538820)
“This Viognier is another exercise in restraint and then release. The nose crowds your senses gleefully and then the straight-jacketed palate clams are all down, only for the finish to rush, giddy and screaming down your cakehole. It is so much fun and so lovely to see Viognier enjoying itself for once.”
THE WINERY OF GOOD HOPE quotes from the 2009 PLATTER GUIDE:
“There’s always something happening at this up-and-at-’em Helderberg winery.”
“Stylish & strikingly individual.”
“More Old World styling than New…”
“Exotic, individual & compelling”
RATINGS 2009 PLATTER GUIDE: Radford Dale range
**** Merlot 2005
Admired as template of varietal’s potential: violet & blackcurrant perfume, black pep per & scrub shading to the fine-grained tannins. Nudges
next level.
****½ Freedom Pinot Noir 2007
Celebrates Dale’s ‘escape from French bureaucracy’, 1994 arrival in changed SA. labour of love, only 47 cs. Layers of complexity: cherries,
organic notes, cedar spicing; classic styling revealed in balance, sinuous elegance.
WO Elgin.
**** Shiraz 2006
Back on form, lovely espresso, black plums, ground pep per notes, captured within a silky, juicy structure that makes it pure drinking plea sure. Good cellaring potential. Unfined/filtered. 14 months mainly French, 40% new.
***** Gravity 2005
Varying blend flag ship red, shiraz-dominant in 05 (»). Wonderfully perfumed, but power under the seductive appeal, good tannin back bone for a long,
rewarding evolution.
**** Shiraz-Viognier 2006
Co-fermentation, accounting for integration, harmony. Has smoky dark tones of full-ripe fruit; viognier adds aromatic intrigue, a lifting floral note. Smooth textured from careful oaking, already delicious.
**** Shiraz-Merlot 2006
Owed more to shiraz than merlot in youth; moorland
scrub, brambleberries, pepper dusting, with firm tannins busy melding when sampled.
Well constructed, great potential.
****½ Chardonnay 2006
Meticulous vineyard selection & cellar care. Trade mark deep-seated peach & citrus intensity in intro but the palate is what distinguishes this chardonnay: a fine-boned Burgundian savouriness.
****½ Viognier 2007
Shows even better than previously, more Old World than New. Lavender, pronounced peach pip, an earthy minerality throughout. Stylish & strikingly individual. Rhône yeasts, Burg barrels. Only 190 cs.
****½ Natural Sweet Viognier 2007
Pineapple-scented barley sugar, with an intriguing
lavender nose, assaults the senses; mouth-coating richness, satin texture, ultra
long finish. Serve well-chilled, only to your closest friends: a mere 190 x 500ml bottles
made.
| ***** | Superlative. A Cape classic |
| ****½ | Outstanding |
| **** | Excellent |
| ***½ | Very good/promising |
| *** | Characterful, appealing |
| **½ | Good everyday drinking |
| ** | Pleasant drinking |
| *½ | Casual quaffing |
| * | Plain and simple |
| ½ | Very ordinary |
| No Star | Somewhat less than ordinary |
Vines Magazine, Toronto, Canada –September 2008
2005 RADFORD DALE GRAVITY Scores 4½ STARS
"Radford Dale is a partnership between Ben Radford, a Barossa native, and
Alex Dale, who was raised in Burgundy. Gravity is their premium red, a
blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Viognier. Traditional and
modern techniques are employed - wine is aged in 600-litre French oak
barrels, micro-oxygenation is carried out in barrel - to create this supple
and complex wine. Beautiful texture, concentration and integration are the
hallmarks of this stunning wine."
2005 RADFORD DALE GRAVITY Scores 4½ STARS
"Radford Dale is a partnership between Ben Radford, a Barossa native, and Alex Dale, who was raised in Burgundy. Gravity is their premium red, a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Viognier. Traditional and modern techniques are employed - wine is aged in 600-litre French oak barrels, micro-oxygenation is carried out in barrel - to create this supple and complex wine. Beautiful texture, concentration and integration are the hallmarks of this stunning wine."
Old Spice and some wine
24.com 12:04, Wednesday, 18 Jun, 2008
To the wine
Last night we tasted Viognier and Shiraz – and it was presented by the witty Mia Mortensson (aka super sommelier) from The Winery of Good Hope. Basically, a motley crew of nationalities, backgrounds in the industry, that collects grapes from specific sites to make the wines they want to make. Almost like location scouts for movies just more vino driven!
Radford Dale Shiraz 2005 R99
This one had loads of cedar on the nose, plumy, white pepper and there was almost something minty going on in my mouth and red berries with a plum or two – delicious!
Radford Dale Gravity R200
I am not going to try and explain the extensive and expensive process of how gravity is actually used to pressed down the grapes in the making of this wine and or how they pressed and prodded it in in superba expensive 600 l barrels. Needless to say this is a handcrafted wine “ if you like a Mercedes Benz say rather than a zuped up Honda sedan then this wine should be your choice. Elegant without posturing and highly drinkable now, but hell I think give it 5-7 years to loosen up and it might actually blow you away. Platter gave it 5 stars so for those posturing wine buyers this is good choice!
"Viognier is growing in popularity in South Africa, although the vineyard area it occupies in the Cape is still minute.... Today it's both trendy on its own, and the trick of adding a splash of Viognier to Shiraz has been enthusiastically adopted by Cape Winemakers. The 2007 Radford Dale viognier was recently released from the individualistic cellar known as The Winery, a single vineyard wine from Helderberg grapes, matured in French oak for six months. While it offers characteristic aromas of peach and apricot, this is a bone-dry wine, a concentrated mouthfull with a strong minerality. If you have been put-off Viognier by some of the overpowering floral efforts that remind you of bubble baths, this is likely to put the cultivar back in favour..."
Mryna Robins, WEEKEND ARGUS, RSA. February 2008
The Winery of Good Hope - Radford Dale Viognier 2007, R125, 16
Given that ‘individuality’ is the defining word in The Winery of Good Hope’s positioning (you’ll find the phrase ‘All about individuality’ on stationery, website and media releases) it is not surprising that this viognier is strikingly different. The fruit comes from low-yielding but youngish (nine year old) vines on the granitic slopes of the Helderberg; its style is set by head winemaker, Edouard Labeye, who consults to many French vineyard owners including one in Condrieu, the great home of viognier. Labeye barrel-fermented the wine using a Rhône-derived yeast, suppressed malolactic fermentation and aged both the free-run and the pressed wine (separately) in a mix of old and new (12%) barrels for six months. Stylistically, the wine is dry, with a lean minerality; it's also bold and assertive, quite stark but still with considerable depth and length. It’s a definite departure from the more perfumed and floral, rich and flirtatious examples favoured by most South Africa producers. Except for IM who immediately lauded its individuality, we took some time, discussing the wine and revisiting it, to acknowledge its positive difference. It is not for the faint-hearted but rather for those with an adventurous wine soul. The winery’s managing director, Alex Dale, had cleverly sent along a wedge of a rich and intense French Comté cheese; this proved an exciting combination with the wine, highlighting our belief that it would sit well on the dinner table. Several hours after the official tasting, with this viognier plus four other whites in front of me, I continually returned to the viognier for companionship; it certainly was the most interesting.
Grape, RSA, APRIL 2008
RADFORD DALE Freedom Pinot Noir 2007
“There’s good news and bad news for the SA Pinot posse. Alex Dale and his team have significantly raised the bar. The bad news is that only 47 dozen were made and that’s been sold 10 times over...”
“Freedom has a remarkable freshness and acidity…while being unfiltered has preserved more of the aromatics with the much sought-after hints of violets definitely lurking in the undergrowth.”
“Elegant and flirty with beautiful lines at under R200.”
NEIL PENDOCK
SUNDAY TIMES RSA, February 2008
NEIL PENDOCK
SUNDAY TIMES RSA, February 2008
ALEX DALE - “He does things the old fashioned way and relies on quality”
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.
4* Stellenboch Radford Dale Merlot 2005: schönes Rubin, etwas Cassiskonfitüre, eleganter, aber auch etwas schlanker Wein mit guter Tanninstruktur
4* Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Vinum 2005: dichtes Rot, ledrig-pflaumige Aromen, feste Tanninstruktur und gute aromatische Fülle, eleganter Wein
4* Stellenbosch Good Hope Pinotage 2006: dichtes Rubinrot, pfeffrige Kirschfrucht, saftig, fruchtig, etwas wenig Tiefe und Länge
5* Stellenbosch Radford Dale Gravity 2004: dichtes Rubin, würzige, tiefe Fruchtaromen, fest strukturierter Wein mit guter Länge, braucht noch Zeit
4* Stellenbosch Radford Dale Gravity 2005: dichtes Rot, noch verhaltene Nase, feste, große Struktur, braucht noch Zeit, Tannine noch eine Spur bitter
4* Stellenbosch Radford Dale Shiraz - Viognier 2005: dichtes Rubinrot, tiefe Cassisaromen, gut strukturiert, aber mit zu viel Schärfe, 2. Probe : frisches Rubinrot, klassisches Syrahbukett mit schwarzen Beeren, elegante, feste Struktur, besser als bei der Vorprobe
3* Swartland Black Rock Shiraz - Carignan - Grenache 2006: leuchtendes, frisches Rubin, etwas zu neutral in der Nase und zu wenig Frucht am Gaumen
Dr. Eckhard Supp, Germany, October 2007.
Radford Dale Gravity 2005
One of only 21 wines to win five stars in Platter’s South African Wines 2008, it is named after natural gravitational pressing which creates fruit intensity and supple tannins. Gravity is a harmonious blend of spicy Shiraz, dense, ripe Cabernet Sauvignon and deep red-berry Merlot with a splash of Viognier.
The South African
Top SA ‘Flagship Blends’ feature
March 2008
Radford Dale Merlot 2005 ****
With Old World leanings, 2005 has lovely wild herb, violet, white pepper nuances, subtle, silky elegance. Merlot for Grown –ups.
Radford Dale Shiraz 2005 ****
Sashays back to the New World after rhône-toned 2004. Latest has plenty of ripe dark fruit, an array of oak spices & smoky liquorice tones.
Radford Dale Shiraz-Viognier 2005 ****
Co-fermented, which accounts for complete integration, harmony of 2005 wine. Brambleberries, white pepper, earthy notes, with a hovering fragrant lift from viognier.
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2005 ****x (4 ½ Stars)
Meticulous vineyard selection & cellar care shows in sleek thoroughbred lines. Quiet Burgundian in its restraint, minerality, deep-seated peach & citrus flavouring.
Radford Dale Viognier 2006 ****
Always the unexpected from this team. 2006 has more lavender, candied violet shadings than normal peach aromatics of variety. Ripe but not overblown, it offers exotic drinkability.
JOHN PLATTER SOUTH AFRICAN WINE GUIDE 2007
2004 The Winery of Good Hope Radford Dale Gravity Stellenbosch -89 points
($62; a blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 24% shiraz and 21% merlot) Medium red-ruby. Chocolate mint and smoky oak on the nose. Full but a bit youthfully closed, with concentrated, pure flavors of currant and chocolate. Finishes with slightly dry-edged, dusty tannins Give this one a couple of years.
2004 The Winery of Good Hope Black Rock red blend Swartland -89 points
($25; a blend of Rhone varieties) Bright red-ruby. Highly complex aromas of blueberry, smoked meat, pepper, licorice and flowers. Suave on entry, then dense, juicy and seemless, with very good energy to the flavors of black cherry, iron, pepper and bitter chocolate. Nicely concentrated, intriguing wine with excellent balance. Finishes with firm, dusty, building tannins.
2004 The Winery of Good Hope Vinum Africa Cabernet Sauvignon Stellenbosch -88 points
($14) Medium-deep red. Raspberry and flowers on the nose. Sweet, smooth and lively, with god intensity to the red berry and spicy oak flavors. Finishes with substantial ripe tannins. Nicely balanced, suave wine.
2005 The Winery of Good Hope Radford Dale Chardonnay Stellenbosch -88 points
($20) Bright, pale yellow-gold. Sexy aromas of apricot, peach, smoke and minerals, with a suggestion of tropical fruits. Less sweet than the nose suggests, showing a slightly dry cyanic edge to the supple fruit flavors. The juicy finish displays a note of apple core.
USA, March 2007
Radford Dale
Gravity 2004 R200 (f) 17.5
The Winery, the innovative Stellenbosch-based wine company of which Radford Dale is the flagship brand, has recently received a healthy financial boost from Australia: Barossa-based Yalumba, Australia's oldest family-owned winery (established 1849) has purchased a one fifth stake in the partnership. More capital will probably translate into ever more enthusiastic research and experimentation by Alex Dale and his team, who use a special process to make Gravity, a blend of cabernet, shiraz and merlot from Stellenbosch fruit (Helderberg and Devon Valley). The process involves use of a ‘gravitational’ portion of wine where the grapes are crushed only by the weight of the pomace, drip-draining the juice overnight directly into second-fill demi-muids (600 litre Fr oak casks). The ripe red and black fruit aromas (as well as hints of expensive oak) which introduce this second vintage deliver their promise on the palate with a compact core of ripe fruit and seamlessly integrated tannins. It is easy to underestimate the structure at first because of the rounded softness of the wine, before the persistence builds up to a supple ‘thwang’ on the finish, driving the wine even further forward! It hit the spot for TJ, CvZ found integration and balance key, and AL relished the finesse and polish, but thought it too young to drink now. I had little problem ‘re-sampling’ the wine with food over a couple of days, which only confirmed the quality and ageing potential. All agreed the wine worth the rating – an unusually high one for this panel. Three quarters of the wine has apparently already been sold, so grab some while you can. – IM
Article in Grape
RADFORD DALE CHARDONNAY 2004 STELLENBOSCH
A Chardonnay daring to be individual reflects crisp lime-citrus elegance with gentle oaking, giving an elegant yet intense length on the palate.
Team this Platter 4.5-star wine with sushi, sashimi, grilled fish, hard cheeses, asparagus, chicken and shellfish.
RADFORD DALE GRAVITY 2004 STELLENBOSCH
Gentle handling of exceptional fruit, winemaking skill and patient, careful maturation has produced a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Shiraz blend rated a 4.5 star wine by the Platter wine guide. Team it with game, roasted meats, stews, and pasta with meat sauces.
South Africa’s 20 Best Wines - for the Festive Season.
SAVOUR, December 2006, RSA
“The Global Riesling renaissance is said to be underway but local examples don’t create much excitement, Christian Eedes reports.
By all accounts, the popularity of Riesling is on the rise again which poses the question of whether or not South Africa is capable of making a passable version.
When the WINE magazine panel came to review examples of the variety currently available on the local market, the top performer with a rating of 4 Stars was from Eden Valley in South Australia, marketed under the premium Radford Dale label”…
November 2006 Edition of WINE Magazine (RSA)
“Radford Dale Eden Valley Riesling 2005. 4 Stars
Delicate nose with spice and some terpene character. Palate balanced with pure lime fruit, some mineral notes and crisp acid. Very elegant. Keep for 5 to 10 years…”
November 2006 Edition of WINE Magazine (RSA)
EDITOR’S CHOICE
SMART INVESTMENT
November 2006 Edition of WINE Magazine (RSA)
Radford Dale Eden Valley Riesling 2005. R135.
“…I’m a Rielsing fan, I admit, but this one’s a cracker –beautiful balance of fruit and zingy acidity.”
WINE Magazine (RSA) annual South Africa Chardonnay Review, November 2006 edition.
Twelve out of the one hundred and twenty 2005 vintage Chardonnays reviewed, 12 we’re singled-out as the top Chardonnays in South Africa, all receiving 4 Stars :
Sorting
the 2004 crop.
1. Chamonix
2. Plaisir de Merle
3. Paul Cluver
4. Sterhuis Barrel Selection
5. Glen Carlou
6. Haut Espoir
7. Radford Dale
8. Tokara
9. Glenwood Vineyards Vigneron’s Selection
10. Jordan Nine Yards
11. Mulderbosch Barrel Fermented
12. Hamilton-Russell
“4 STARS : Radford Dale Chardonnay 2005
Vanilla toast and peach aromas. Rich, balanced citrus and peach flavours. Creamy with loads of fruit and good integration. Tangy and silky. Long finish.“
I must admit to occasionally enjoying some of the full frontal New World style reds, blockbustering fruit and all puff and bravado. So when a wine like the Radford Dale Gravity 2004 comes along, a really dignified almost hand made, like a perfectly blown glass, wine of the deepest and broadest complexity, it does have the effect of making me sit up and listen and look and taste and wonder. Stunningly balanced, like we like to think the scales of Justice are, the brilliant natural sappiness of the fruit beautifully integrated with its acidity, the excellent oak and each of the three grapes which make up the blend contributing its own virtues. The blackcurrant and blueberry fruit of the Cabernet, the blood plums and raspberries of the Merlot and the stunning enduring fine Italian leather and spice tones of the Shiraz.
Part of the wine is matured in conventional Allier Oak barrels and part in open top Demi-Muids - a 600 litre oak vat typical of those used in the Rhone Valley. Barossa born Ben Radford and Burgundian Alex Dale of The Winery of Good Hope are the only producers in South Africa to import these barrels for this totally unique way of producing a wine in the Cape.
Not exactly given away at R200 a bottle from your favourite specialist wine store, but it is a wine of such fabulous pedigree I am sure you will find an occasion to splash out for something as special as this.
MICHAEL OLIVIER
NOSH NEWS SOUTH AFRICA –OCTOBER 2006
South African Wine, part 2
Jamie Goode, UK, May 2006
Winery of Good Hope Chenin Blanc 2005 Stellenbosch
This is Radford Dale’s more affordable, everyday Chenin, which is fermented in tank with some extended lees contact. Nice honeyed nose with a trace of herby Chenin fruit. Lovely palate is quite rich with some delicious cheesy, herbal fruit. Lots of personality to this fruit-driven wine. Very good+ 87/100
Vinum Chenin 2004 Stellenbosch
With this, Alex is looking for a wine that will age longer, with more minerality and flintiness and less fruit. A small proportion goes into small French oak barrels. There’s lots of personality here: it’s minerally, with notes of straw and herbs. The palate has a lovely savoury, herbal character together with nice minerality and weight. A lovely food wine. Very good+ 89/100
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2003 Stellenbosch
Lovely weight and richness: an expressive, slightly nutty Chardonnay with a toasty edge to it. The oak doesn’t overpower. It’s rich, but not over the top; a nice wine, made with restraint. After alcoholic fermentation this is kept at 4–7 ºC for five or six months to delay malolactic and give the wine a chance to interact with the lees and oak. Malolactic is inhibited with sulfur dioxide after this. Very good+ 88/100
Black Rock 2004 Perderberg, Swartland
The first release of this wine, which comes from the up-coming Perderberg region. It’s mainly Chenin (75%) with some Chardonnay and a touch of Viognier. There’s a nice weight of cheesy, straw-tinged herby fruit. It’s generously textured and has good acidity. A really lovely wine that combines weight with freshness. Very good/excellent 90/100
Radford Dale Shiraz 2003 Stellenbosch
Sweet dark fruits nose with a sweet vanilla and coconut edge, together with some tarriness. The palate shows good concentration of sweet, accessible red fruits. Perhaps just a touch confected but very approachable. After a while there’s a bit of dark chocolatey fruit. It’s tighter and more expressive. Very good/excellent 90/100
Radford Dale Gravity 2004 Stellenbosch
A blend of Cabernet (50%), Merlot (25%) and Shiraz (25%). Lovely ripe dark fruits nose with a minerally, slightly leafy character and a tarry edge. The palate is dominated by smooth sweet dark fruits. Well defined with an earthy, spicy savouriness adding a lovely spicy definition. Very good/excellent 92/100
Five stars
2003 Radford Dale Chardonnay
Tastes like a great Burgundy costing three times as much. Complex and still vibrant.
Flemming Hvelplund in Erhversbladet (Businessmagazine, Denmark), Friday March 17
SA wines get the world-class taste
Myrna Robins –Cape Argus : Good Tastes feature, 25th March 2006
“Entrepreneurial partners and innovative plantings characterize operations at The Winery, where clever marketing complements consistent quality across four ranges.”
South African white wine feature.
The only two 5 Star wines from the top 11 SA white wines selected :
***** Black Rock, Chenin / Chardonnay / Viognier 2004
***** Radford Dale, Chardonnay 2003
Flemming Hvelplund, Erhvervsbladet, Denmark March 2006
New Releases from Australia
2004 Radford Dale, Eden Valley, Riesling 90 pts
"Light, bright gold. Resiny, fusel and pungent on the nose, with vibrant lemon, white grapefruit and spearmint aromas. Racy, firmly structured and dry on the palate, with bright, pleasingly bitter flavors of grapefruit, lemon zest and Thai basil. Firm, focused, concentrated and flat-out impressive."
STEVE TANZER : Issue 121, July/August 2005
Shiraz 2004 ****x (4 ½ Stars)
Glorious Old World nose, more Rhone than Rutherglen, flavours of meat & new leather, tobacco and smoke; superb tannin structure, great prospects. Even better than ’03.
Chardonnay 2004 ****x (4 ½ Stars)
..somewhat restrained palate with minerals & crisp citrus; good definition and balance; finesse, elegance all round. Complex in subtle, understated manner, as was ’03.
John Platter South Africa Wine Guide 2006
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2004
Everything about this wine has two sides to it - a real Gemini wine. [France/The Cape] Alex Dale and his partner Ben Radford [Australia]. The wine is like a finely honed race horse, its jockey reining in the fruit acidity, the citrus and the wonderful use of French Oak and the horse itself bursting to be given a chance to run with its inherent optimum ripeness of the grapes and their tannins, bold lime-squirt, a savoury mineraliness and a length of flavour which makes it win the race no matter what the jockey does.
Michael Oliver, Noshnews, December 2005
A winery confidently called "The Winery" is behind some innovative warm-climate wines under the Black Rock label, while its Radford Dale label offers very satisfying drinking from more conventional varieties. The Radford Dale Chardonnay 2004 is very well balanced with a firm structure that should help convert anyone who thinks Chardonnay is all about woody alliance. New under the Radford Dale label is a Riesling 2004 all the way from Eden Valey, Australia which is a strikingly taut, racy number for line fish and late afternoons.drinking more Riesling would be an essential tip for avoiding (Christmas) season fatigue, it's just so refreshing and suits summery cuisine.
JP ROUSSOUW, CAPE TIMES, 18.11.05
Gravity, Gravity, there’s nothing quite like Gravity
There never was a wine of such elegance and suavity
It may be Merlot, it may be Shiraz, you’re really not too sure
But whatever it is, with all that flavour, you know Gravity’s a damn good pour!
Doug Wreg, UK (AKA T.S. Eliot)
Radford Dale Gravity 2003
(47% Merlot, 28% Shiraz and 25% Cabernet-Sauvignon) Bright medium ruby...nose combines dark berries, plum, tobacco and eucalyptus. Swee, tactile and deep, with flavors of cassis, chocolate, licorice and mint. Rather claret-like and Old World in style but with extra sweetness. A broad mouth-filling wine that's still young but already shows a suave texture.
Steve Tanzer, April 2005
Radford Dale Shiraz 2003
Bright medium ruby. Tight, nuanced nose combines blackberry, cassis, smoked meat, black pepper and exotic oak. Suave and fine-grained, with concentrated black fruit, licorice and pepper flavors and a subtle sweetness. Very young but not hard, finishing with fine tannins... appears to be built to age.
Steve Tanzer, April 2005
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2003
Cool aromas of citrus skin, dusty stone and minerals, with a subtle toastiness. Dry and rather delicate, with flavors similar to the aromas. Distinctly understated wine with subtle oakiness. Finishes form-edged but
not hard. Easy to drink.
Steve Tanzer, April 2005
Denmark's "Wine Spectator"
Chardonnay 2003, Radford Dale, Sydafrika
Hvidvin - Chardonnay
Dato Score Stjerner Pris Modenhed
17-Feb-2005 91 5 stjerner 150,00 2005 - 2008
Lys gulgrøn farve. Intens duft af citrus, lime, tropisk frugt, lidt nødder. Mellemfyldig vin med en flot rank frugt og en stålsat, let mineralsk smag. Vinen rundes flot af med en let faddosering og slutter blødt, langt og dejligt. En nuancerig og kompleks vin - og meget fransk inspireret. Det er god Bourgogne til halv pris!
Vinen er en glimrende ledsager til det bedste fra havet.
Translation:
Chardonnay 2003, Radford Dale, South Africa
White wine - Chardonnay
Date Score Stars Price Anticipated maturity
17-Feb-2005 91 5 150,00 2005 - 2008
Light yellow colour with a green tinge. Intense nose with hints of citrus, lime, tropical fruit and nuts. Medium bodied with beautiful straight fruit and a steely, slightly minerally taste. Well rounded, with gentle oak and
finishes with a soft, rich long and lovely aftertaste. Full of nuance and complexity - and very French inspired. This is like great Burgundy at half the price. Great along with the best seafood.
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2005
“Blood, guts and passion go into every wine from this extraordinary collaboration…”
Sorting the 2004 crop.
Radford Dale Gravity 2003 ****x (4 ½ Stars)
Seamlessly combines Merlot, Shiraz, cab; impresses with pure, savoury vinosity in soft frame; sleek, fine-boned, full presence revealed only after last sip. Name derives from vinification: even “press” juice from pressure of grapes themselves, not machinery. Should delight –now to at least 2008- anyone able to find some of mere 290cs.
Radford Dale Merlot 2003 ****
Pleasurable drinkability, concentration/structure for 4-5 years improvement…More emphatic (than 2002), striking; rich, intense aromas/flavours on confident structure.
Radford Dale Shiraz 2003 ****
Seeks balance of firm structure with spicy, peppery abundance. 2003 spot on: delicious rich mouthful dark spice/berries with fresh, lively core for great savoury length; dense, supple tannins encourage current drinking; further 4-5 year potential.
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2003 ****
Complex in subtle, understated manner. 2003 layered, cool elegance; soft oatmeal, lemon bream pinpoint minerally fresh core; supportive, enriching wood.
Chardonnay 2001 ****(4 stars)
“Much admired by UK opinion-shaper Jancis Robinson, among others. Nutty attractions to fresh lemony zip”
Radford Dale Gravity 2003
It was only a matter of time before The Winery launched an ambitious blend… This Merlot / Shiraz / Cabernet mélange is concentrated yet seamless. The fruit is of exceptional quality… A modern (but not showy), harmonious and polished wine. Clearly on the expensive side but, with such attention to detail and the potential to improve in the bottle for at least 10 years (yet supple now), not too unreasonably so.
****+(4 ½) Stars
Grape, South Africa, November 2004
| ASPEN "Super Tasting" Results, June 2004 | |||||
| RANK | WINE/VINTAGE | PTS. | # TASTERS | AVG. SCORE (20 MAX) | PRICE |
| 1. | Radford Dale Gravity '03 | 343 | 20 | 17.15 | $ 62.50 |
| 2. | Leonetti Merlot '02 | 328.5 | 20 | 16.43 | $ 85.00 |
| 3. | Basel Cellars Alchemist '02 | 325.25 | 20 | 16.26 | $ 62.50 |
| 4. | Duckhorn "3 Palms" Merlot '01 | 320.75 | 20 | 16.04 | $ 90.00 |
| 5. | Opus 1 '01 | 319.5 | 20 | 15.98 | $ 150.00 |
| 6. | Chateau L'Apolline '01 | 300 | 20 | 15 | $ 62.50 |
| 7. | Chateau Lafite '99 | 288 | 20 | 14.4 | $ 250.00 |
| 8. | Crane Merlot '00 | 286 | 20 | 14.3 | $ 62.50 |
The Vineyard Club, USA, June 2004
A blend of Merlot 47% / Shiraz 28% / Cabernet-Sauvignon 25%, the 2003 Gravity reveals a nose of spicy red fruits and lead pencil shavings. Youthfully tight and foursquare, this wine has outstanding potential. Medium-bodied and focused, it displays considerable quantities of well-ripened red as well as black fruits that are, at present, ensconced in the midst of copious tannin. Projected maturity : 2009-2017.
2003 Gravity
Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, October 2004
“The internationally styled 2001 Chardonnay from Radford Dale offers oak and almond aromas. On the palate, this medium bodied effort is satin-textured, lush, and filled with vanilla as well as coconut flavours”
Robert Parker, The Value Report, Wine Advocate (USA), September 2003
“Ben Radford and Alex Dale have joined forces and now produce an exciting range under the Radford Dale label….their 2002 Shiraz is spicy and peppery, with inky berry and blackcurrant fruit, hints of mint and a supple, juicy finish. It’s already delicious, but it will be fascinating to see how it ages.”
92 points
Wine International (UK), March 2004
“Now with broader red plum, dark choc fruit richness. Deliciously drinkable now”
****(4 stars) Merlot 2001
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2004
“Suavely elegant, still holding well; truffly richness, matched by fresh mineral acidity”
****(4 stars) Shiraz 2001
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2004
“Much admired by UK opinion-shaper Jancis Robinson, among others. Nutty attractions to fresh lemony zip”
****(4 stars) Chardonnay 2001
“I drank (not tasted) two South African wines only last night. My 18 yr old son is trying to learn about wine, so over dinner I showed him 2001 Chardonnays from Shafer in California to contrast with Glen Carlou and what I thought an exceptionally good Chardonnay from Radford Dale…”
Jancis Robinson, Grape Magazine July-Sept 2003
“…maverick wine exporter Alex Dale is also releasing his three-tiered range in SA. The Radford Dale label offers fine, fruited wines with a classy merlot and a particularly impressive Shiraz..”
Michael Fridjon, Business Day - May 8th 2003
“Not only is value for money being emphasised, but this international bunch is concentrating on producing modern wines geared to our tastes, rather than what winemakers think we should like. The 2001 Radford Dale Merlot is quite delicious, spicy with a tiny hint of pepper discernible.”
Myrna Robins, Weekend Argus, May 3rd 2003
“The Winery may be small, but it’s a company to watch”
- Kim Maxwell – Harpers, (UK) 23rd May 2003 “Radford Dale Merlot 2001 is highly civilised and smooth yet raunchy and characterful”
Malcolm Gluck, The Guardian Weekend (UK), 12th July 2003
Jancis Robinson's South Africa Overview 2003 (June 2003):
Favourite Chardonnay.
Radford Dale 2001
Hamilton Russell 2001
Paul Cluver 2002
Count Agusta 2001
Asara 2001
"Alex Dale worked in Burgundy for Drouhin and Jacques Prieur. Ben Radford is the quiet one, from a Barossa Valley wine family… Between them they are managing to turn out some of South Africa's most competently made wines with real appeal to palates outside South Africa and at far from ridiculous prices"
Jancis Robinson MW, October 2002
"Suavely elegant…Minerally fresh acidity, medium body provide excellent support to mouthcoating varietal spice, truffly savouriness. Oak imparts structure rather than flavour".
**** (4 Stars) Shiraz 2001
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2003
(South Africa's)…problems are being attacked by the new generation of established producers. They are passionate, and …they'll get the job done. …More importantly, they are concentrating on making wines that represent the South Africa of today. Keep an eye on Anthony Hamilton-Russell of Hamilton Russell, Radford Dale's Alex Dale, Klein Constantia's Lowell Jooste, Rust en Vrede's Jean Engelbrecht, Meerlust's Hannes Myburg and Warwick's Mike Ratcliffe.
Linda Johnson-Bell, WINE Magazine (UK), September 2002
"Winemaking prodigies Ben Radford and Alex Dale have brought together a balance of ol' world élan and new world daring….remaining quality-driven, building on growing recognition and consistency"
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2002
"Flattering well-padded feel, nothing harsh, over-extracted or remotely oaky. Firm yet rounded frame; enveloping dark chocolate warmth imparts delicious drinkability, class ".
**** (4 Stars) Merlot 2001
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2003
"Two of the country's young hot-shots Alex Dale and Ben Radford have teamed-up and are producing some truly stunning wines where the word quality has found its true meaning. This pair is an inspiration to the industry in both winemaking, marketing and service levels"
Off Licence News, UK -June 2002-06-20
Profile of South Africa, Part 3 - 09/02
© 2002 Tom Cannavan
This is part 3 of a major feature on South Africa. Listed here are 100 great South African wines.
Part 3 - 100 great South African wines:
Radford Dale Shiraz 1999
Tiny production of a very rich, concentrated, ripe Shiraz. There's a jammy core of blackberry fruit that is densely packed and a real warmth of rich earth and berries. These dominate on the palate and the wine is quite complex with layers of fruit and long finish. (Oddbins, £9.49)
The most fatiguing report to write for this guide is the one on excellent values. Over 3,000 wines have been tasted in order to unearth these appealing bargains. The unmistakable irony of the international marketplace is that the top end of luxury priced wines is preposterously overpriced, regardless of how superb some of those wines might be. At the bottom of the market, most wines offer little except acidity, wood, alcohol, and an absence of fruit. Yet the wines contained in this report are often amazing for their price.
Robert Parker
SOUTH AFRICA
87 points and Great Value rating - RADFORD DALE 1999 CHARDONNAY
"The '99 Chardonnay reveals fresh, floral aromas…elegant personality, filled with pears and white flowers. It has good grip, balance and an appealingly pure, long finish".
Date: 8-31-01-The Wine Advocate
…Ben Radford…vinifie sous la marque Radford Dale une des plus belles syrahs du millésime '99 (Ben Radford, under the Radford Dale label, has produced one of the most beautiful Shiraz of the '99 Vintage).
1999 Radford Dale Shiraz
Gault Milau, France. Survey of South Africa's top wines, September 2000
Varietal purity with complexity the goal. Hence 2000's glorious dawn-fresh blackberry bouquet -minerally, cool, profound …tannins perfectly ripe and elongated into the wine.
**** (4 Stars) Merlot 2000
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2002
Ben Radford and Alex Dale .
"Full of subtle complexities ( ..ground black pepper) but with whole much greater than the parts. Deliciously savoury…textured yet with telling crescendo of richness in back palate; rounded off by sleekest dry tannin."
**** (4 Stars) Shiraz 2000
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2002
"…quality Chardonnay from hot vintage…displays its own cool, poised profile : lemons, tropical limes, snatches incipient oatmeal, hazelnuts complexity. Palate elegant, expansive yet firm; structure supportive of shiny pure fruit. Lovely..."
**** (4 Stars) Chardonnay 2000
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2002
"…names like Ben Radford and Alex Dale… are the future of South African wine…"
Oddbins (UK), Winter 2000 / 2001
"The mighty Ben Radford…larger than life, dashing and talented winemaker whose gifted hands are behind all that is magnificent at Radford Dale, and that's pretty much everything. This is a boutique operation…discover why small is beautiful."
Oddbins (UK), Winter 2000 / 2001
CHARDONNAY OF THE YEAR, Ireland:
Ben Radford and Alex Dale are described as a "young and dynamic duo" and they would need to be, I suppose, to produce such a breathtakingly attractive Chardonnay.
The Sunday Tribune (Dublin), November '99
Step this way to discover the quality wines that Ben Radford and Alex Dale have put their names to. This is a focused operation, and the guys have no inclination to expand… but, focus means class.
Oddbins (UK), July 1999
Stunning new creations from the region's prodigy winemakers that are made in tiny quantities.
Oddbins (UK), July 1999
Ben Radford and Alex Dale remind you what wine's all about. Or should be… Low key Radford has made some of the Cape's most gorgeous modern wines… high voltage Dale …has shown an uncommon grasp of Cape wine's problems and potential.
**** (4 Stars) Chardonnay 1999
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2001
As convincing, delicious a Merlot as one could wish to find in the Cape. Class and temptation shimmer through…
**** (4 Stars) Merlot 1999
John Platter South African Wine Guide 2001
Admirably constructed, long; compact minerally spicy fruit; cedary oak shadows broader mocha, plum tones…extra tautness from fine, very dry tannins (Merlot '98)
****(4 stars)
John Platter Guide 2000
…crisp and balanced on the palate, impressively long, remarkably European and utterly delicious. (1999 Chardonnay) .
The Sunday Tribune (Dublin), December '99
Rich, savoury '98, leads with roasted hazelnuts, toasty oak. Smooth texture, focused by sound acid core; obviously ripe but not heavy... Stylish. (1998 Chardonnay)
****(4 stars)
John Platter Guide 2000