PRESS AND REVIEWS
PRESS AND REVIEWS
Here's a roundup of our recent reviews and news from around the world.
TIM ATKIN MW
SOUTH AFRICA REPORT
96 POINTS ONE OF THE WINES OF THE YEAR
Radford Dale The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2017
95 POINTS ONE OF THE WINES OF THE YEAR
Radford Dale Renaissance Chenin Blanc 2019
94 POINTS
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2018 & 2017
Radford Dale Freedom Pinot Noir 2018
93 POINTS
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2017
Radford Dale Freedom Pinot Noir 2019 & 2017
Radford Dale The Revelation Chenin Blanc 2019 & 2018
Radford Dale Renaissance Chenin Blanc 2018
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2019
92 POINTS
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2019
Radford Dale Frankenstein Pinotage 2016
91 POINTS
Radford Dale Syrah 2015
Radford Dale Vinum Pinotage 2019
Radford Dale Grenache 2019
90 POINTS
Radford Dale Black Rock 2017
Radford Dale Frankenstein Pinotage 2017
Radford Dale The Antidote Gamay Noir 2019 & 2018
Radford Dale Thirst Gamay 2019
Radford Dale Vinum Pinotage 2018
JANCISROBINSON.COM
JULIA HARDING MW
17 POINTS
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2019
Radford Dale Renaissance Chenin Blanc 2017
Radford Dale Syrah 2017
16.5 POINTS
Radford Dale Renaissance Chenin Blanc 2019
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2019
Radford Dale The Revelation 2019
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2017
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2017
Radford Dale The Antidote Gamay 2019
Radford Dale Freedom Pinot Noir 2019, 2018 & 2017
Radford Dale Thirst Clairette Blanche 2019
Radford Dale Vinum Pinotage 2019 & 2018
Radford Dale Frankenstein Pinotage 2016
16 POINTS
Radford Dale Thirst Cinsault 2020
Radford Dale The Antidote Gamay Noir 2018
15.5 POINTS
Radford Dale Thirst Gamay 2019
PLATTER SOUTH AFRICAN WINE GUIDE
RED WINE OF THE YEAR 2017
Radford Dale Black Rock 2014
5 STARS
Radford Dale Black Rock 2015
Radford Dale Black Rock 2014
Radford Dale Black Rock 2013
4.5 STARS
Radford Dale Renaissance Chenin Blanc 2019 & 2018
Radford Dale Revelation Chenin Blanc 2019
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2019 &2018
Radford Dale Freedom Pinot Noir 2019 & 2018
Radford Dale Frankenstein Pinotage 2017 & 2016
Radford Dale Nudity Syrah 2017 & No.16
Radford Dale Syrah 2017 & 2015
Radford Dale Gravity 2013 & 2011
4 STARS
Radford Dale The Antidote Gamay Noir 2018
Radford Dale Cinsault 2019
Radford Dale Grenache 2019
Radford Dale Nudity 2018
Radford Dale Thirst Clairette Blanche 2020
Radford Dale Thirst Gamay 2019
Radford Dale The Revelation Chenin Blanc 2018
Radford Dale Vinum Pinotage 2019
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2019 & 2018
DECANTER
Syrah: The Most Exciting Grape in the Cape
95+ Points
Radford Dale Nudity 2013
94 Points
Radford Dale The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2017
Vinum Chenin Blanc 2015
Radford Dale Syrah 2012
93 Points
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2018
Radford Dale The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2015
Radford Dale Frankenstein Pinotage 2014
91 Points
Radford Dale Thirst Gamay 2014
90 Points
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2015
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2017
JAMIE GOODE - WINE ANORAK
South African Gamay almost became extinct, but there’s hope: two from Radford Dale
93 Points
Radford Dale The Antidote Gamay Noir 2019
Radford Dale The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2015
91 Points
Radford Dale Thirst Cinsault 2015
90 Points
Radford Dale Thirst Gamay Noir 2020
Radford Dale Thirst Gamay 2015
CHRISTIAN EEDES - WINEMAG
96 Points
Radford Dale The Revelation Chenin Blanc 2018
95 Points
Radford Dale Frankenstein Pinotage 2016
94 Pints
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2018
Radford Dale Syrah 2017
93 Points
Radford Dale Renaissance Chenin Blanc 2018
92 Points
Radford Dale Nudity Syrah 2018
Radford Dale Freedom Pinot Noir 2018
Radford Dale Black Rock 2017
90 Points
Radford Dale Gravity 2013
Radford Dale The Antidote Gamay Noir 2019
89 Points
Radford Dale Vinum Pinotage 2019
South African Gamay almost became extinct, but there’s hope: two from Radford Dale
By Jamie Goode - Wine Anorak, 10th March 2021
Gamay is rare in South Africa. In 2015 there were just 12 hectares planted in the country, down from 29 a decade earlier. As of the end of 2019, this had fallen further to just 7.92 hectares, almost all of which is in Stellenbosch. But Radford Dale have emerged as champions of this variety, and here I tasted two of their Gamays.
Tom Prior of Radford Dale added some context. ‘As you know, the project kicked off with the Thirst 2015 bottling,’ he says. ‘In effect, it’s a process of salvaging what remained of South Africa’s Gamay vineyards. We added the Antidote bottling to the mix with the 2017 release.’
‘Our focus is on light, fresh red varietals, or varietals which can take that route (such as Pinotage), and we’re enthusiastic importers of progressive Beaujolais [Radford Dale also have an import business]. On another topic, we now produce a Stellenbosch Grenache. It is still a rarity in this area, and whilst it’s an incredibly young site, this wine looks like the pick of our 2020s.’
Radford Dale are now planting Gamay. ‘We were able to rehabilitate an existing site to a level where we could take good quality material and plant,’ says Tom. They planted 0.5 hectares in 2017 and another 0.4 ha in 2019. These vines have been planted in the Karibib farm at the Polkadraai Hills. ‘This grower already supplies fruit for some top SA Chardonnay (Craven), Chenin (us, Alheit) and Syrah (Van Loggerenberg, Reenen Borman),’ he explains.
‘The young Gamay site sits in an elevated position within this ampitheatre of vines, facing SE towards False Bay in the distance,’ says Tom. Their first vintage will be this year. ‘The Karibib site is the first such planting of Gamay in 20 years, and it should serve as an awesome mother block for the future.’
‘Towards the end of 2021 we’ll have a third Gamay bottling in the line-up, which will bridge price and style between the Thirst and Antidote expressions. In due course, we hope to spearhead a Cape category and supply keen peers with material.’
Gamay hasn’t featured much in the varietal mix of South Africa’s winelands. ‘There’s little to go on when it comes to the why of Gamay in the Cape,’ he says. ‘Recently, I uncovered a book after a lead from Joanne Gibson, called Wines of the Cape by C de Bosdari. Writing in the 1950s on Gamay, Bosdari noted Gamay as “sturdy and prolific” and that “planted in the right soil will produce a superior wine at the Cape.” (In the context of his writings, he seems to be implying a superior wine to Pinot.)’
‘This obviously pre-dates Pinot finding a suitable home in the Hemel-en-Aarde, but may offer some clues as to why it appeared in Stellenbosch. As with Cinsault, it would have served as a useful component in creating the ligher-bodied Cabernet blends of the era. At the time, Muratie was bottling a Pinot-Gamay blend, while Chateau Alphen was a blend of Pinot, Gamay and Cab. The Alphen Red, with Cab as its main component, was apparently lighter-bodied.’
The wines
Radford Dale Thirst Gamay 2020 Stellenbosch, South Africa
12% alcohol. Naturally made, unfined and unfiltered. This is light, fresh and supple with juicy cherry fruit, a touch of beetroot and pomegranate, and some strawberry sweetness. This is light and juicy with some fine herby notes, and it’s quite ethereal in its naked purity. Has a touch of sour cherry on the finish. 90/100
Radford Dale The Antidote Gamay Noir 2019 Stellenbosch, South Africa
12.5% alcohol. Supple and elegant with fine red cherry and berry fruits, showing some silkiness and also bright acidity. There’s a lot of freshness, but also some richer berry fruit character and lovely elegance and refinement. Polished, in the best sense of the term, but retaining vitality. A lovely expression of Gamay. 93/100
Radford Dale Terroir Range Press Pages
March 2019
Tim Atkin Lismore Tasting Results - 23 March 2019
Alex, took part in the fifth Lismore tasting held in Greyton by Tim Atkin and Lismore Wine Estate. Designed to pit the best wines of South Africa against their peers from the rest of the world this time it was Chardonnay. 35 wines were tasted in total, 13 of which were from outside the Cape.
Our Radford Dale Chardonnay 2017 came in 1st of the South African wines and 4th overall, in the group tasting! Interestingly, 4 of the 5 top SA Chardonnays were from Stellenbosch.
GROUP TASTING TOP 10
1. 2017 Errázuriz Las Pizarras, Aconcagua Costa (Chile)
2. 2017 Black Book Clayhill Vineyard, Essex (England)
3. 2014 Domaine Marc Morey Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru Les Referts (Burgundy)
4. 2017 Radford Dale Chardonnay, Stellenbosch (South Africa)
5. 2017 Kershaw Clonal Selection, Elgin (South Africa)
6. 2017 Circumstance, Stellenbosch (South Africa)
7. 2016 Leeu Passant, Stellenbosch (South Africa)
8. 2015 Domaine Hubert Lamy St Aubin Premier Cru Les Frionnes (France)
9. 2017 Meerlust, Stellenbosch (South Africa)
10. 2015 Leeuwin Art Series, Margaret River (Australia)
For more information, please visit:
https://bit.ly/2HREtqS - Tim Atkin Lismore Tasting Article
https://bit.ly/2CBKEMi - WineMag Article
Platter's 2021 South African Wine Guide
Yet another great year - 12 of the Best, again!
For a another year, 12 of our Radford Dale wines were awarded 4.5 stars and a record 16 wines received 4 stars in the 41st edition of the guide and we are absolutely delighted with the results!
In the Platter South African Wine Guide, wines are star-rated with 100-point equivalent based on sited and blind tastings. Over 8000 wines are tasted from more than 900 wineries.
Please click here to see the full list of the wines and vintages and Platter notes.
Platter's 2020 South African Wine Guide
Another great year - 12 of the Best
12 of our Radford Dale wines were awarded 4.5 stars and 8 received 4 stars in the latest guide, we are thrilled with the results!
This 40th edition's independent ratings and reviews are the result of a best-of-both worlds system of sighted and blind tastings.
Please click here to see the full list of the wines and vintages and Platter notes.
Platter's 2019 South African Wine Guide
12 of the Best - Consistently Outstanding
We are thrilled to announce our Platter 2019 results.
An unprecedented 12 RADFORD DALE wines were awarded 4.5 stars in the latest guide, released last week.
This, the 39th edition, features over 8,000 wines from 900 producers. The guide's independent ratings and reviews are the result of a best-of-both worlds system of sighted and blind tastings. Please see below for the full list of the wines and vintages with fully transcribed Platter notes.
In addition to the 4.5 star scores above, 8 of our Radford Dale wines have been awarded 4 stars while our Radford Dale Black Rock retains its 5 star rating, which demonstrates our consistently superb ratings in the Platter guide.
This all follows the recent high scores received from Tim Atkin for which we are delighted to have obtained especially as we celebrate 20 years of Radford Dale.
We are very proud of our range and to receive such acknowledgement of all the hard work the team puts in year after year is extremely rewarding.
November 2018
What did Tim Atkin MW say about Radford Dale?
"I am extremely impressed with the quality of what I tasted in 2020, especially from 2019 vintage...Against formidable odds, South Africa is making some of the greatest wines in its history"
Tim Atkin.
95 POINTS
Radford Dale Renaissance Chenin Blanc 2019
Alex Dale refers to Chenin Blanc as "South Africa's noblest grape" and it's hard to disagree
when you taste a wine like this. Elegant and subtly wooded, this is all about balance and
freshness, with fennel and lemongrass aromas, lemon and green apple flavours and the
concentration and extract to age.
93 POINTS
Radford Dale The Revelation Chenin Blanc 2019
Low in alcohol and deliberately made in a style that reflects its cooler Walker Bay source, this
is a fresh, sappy, very lightly wooded Chenin Blanc with commendable precision, brightness
and lift. Aniseed, citrus and wet stone flavours marry well on the palate.
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2019
Burgundy nut Alex Dale has shifted the style of his Stellenbosch Chardonnay in recent years
from Meursault to Chablis, as it were. Low in alcohol, with pear, lemon and subtle cinnamon
spice, this is long, refreshing and a pleasure to drink. The opposite of a one-glass wine.
Radford Dale Freedom Pinot Noir 2019
Reflecting Alex Dale's love of red Burgundy, this is a light, elegant, focused Elgin Pinot that
wouldn't look out of place in Chorey-lès-Beaune. Graceful and refreshing, with redcurrant
and watermelon flavours and fine-grained tannins supported by older oak.
92 POINTS
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2019
Offering superb value for money at just R160, this is like a scaled-down rendition of Alex
Dale's top wines. Taut and refreshing with wild yeast aromas and texture, a hint of oak spice
and a core of crisp, tangy citrus and green apple fruit.
91 POINTS
Radford Dale Vinum Pinotage 2019
The aim here is to reveal "the hidden side of Pinotage", using natural fermentation and
carbonic maceration. It's certainly a wonderfully drinkable red: supple and juicy with
impressive colour and concentration and raspberry and black cherry fruit.
Radford Dale Grenache 2019
Sourced from Alex Dale's home vineyards, close to the Helderberg and cooled by the breezes
from False Bay, this is a Grenache for Pinot Noir lovers, with some whole berry carbonic
maceration. Medium weight, lightly wooded and spicy, with notes of thyme and fennel, tangy
acidity and raspberry and bramble fruit flavours.
90 POINTS
Land of Hope Reserve Pinot Noir 2019
Part of an educational project of "social upliftment", this tasty Pinot Noir is serious stuff.
Made with clones 115 and 777, it's a focused, well-structured red with wild strawberry and
tomato skin flavours and a spicy, slightly volatile lift.
Radford Dale The Antidote Gamay Noir 2019
Made in the style of a Beaujolais Cru rather than a Beaujolais Nouveau, this is a pretty
serious Gamay from Alex Dale and his team. Savoury, grippy and showing some reduction,
with bramble and raspberry fruit and a dusting of oak spice.
Radford Dale Thirst Gamay Noir 2019
One of those wines that I often order by the glass in South African restaurants, this is a
classic combination of Gamay on granite soils. Zesty, crunchy and refreshing, it has thirst quenching acidity, pale colour and bright cherry and raspberry flavours.
Tim Atkin released his South Africa Report 2018 at Cape Wine last week and we are delighted to announce the reviews he gave our wines.
-
Each Radford Dale wine he tasted, he scored between 96 – 90 points
which means all our wines have been bestowed an Award of Excellence.
-
The 3 Regions in which we specialise: Stellenbosch, Elgin & The Swartland,
each featured among these endorsements, reflecting our consistent quality across the various
terroirs and Appellations.
-
5 single varietal wines and one blend featured, also reflecting our consistent quality
across different styles and varieties.
-
Renaissance Chenin Blanc, with 96 Points, was named as one of his WINES OF THE YEAR.
96 points
Radford Dale The Renaissance of Chenin Blanc 2017
Stellenbosch, 12.5%
The Renaissance hails from a single vineyard on the Helderberg that also supplies the core of the Vinum Chenin. Made with a Burgundian sensibility by Jacques de Klerk, it’s layered and complex, with refined oak, amazing concentration and palate length and a creamy, savoury finish. 2019-29
94 points
Radford Dale Chardonnay 2017
Stellenbosch, 11.5%
With his background in Burgundy, Alex Dale has always had a sure touch with Chardonnay. This fresh, light-bodied style, all from the Polkadraai Hills, is light, nuanced and focused, showing notes of struck match and lemon butter and impressive palate length. 2019-25
93 points
Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2017
Stellenbosch, 12.5%
The core of this wine is a 48-year-old vineyard on the Helderberg. It’s all about fruit, with only 30% of wooded material, subtle skin contact for some grip, bracing acidity and flavours of pear, wet stones and spicy, palate-coating concentration. 2019-25
93 points
Radford Dale The Antidote Gamay Noir
Stellenbosch, 12.5%
Inspired by the Cru wines of the northern Beaujolais, this is a new release for Radford Dale,
made with carbonic maceration. Lightly wooded, it’s a very ambitious Gamay, with pepper
spice, bramble and raspberry fruit and crunchy, lip-smacking acidity. 2019-25
93 points
Radford Dale Freedom Pinot Noir 2017
Elgin, 13.5%
“We’ve taken a long time to refine the style,” says Jacques de Klerk of this unfined, unfiltered, whole berry fermented Pinot. There’s a bit of what he calls “grunt” here, as well as subtle reduction, but the underlying fruit is pure, sweet and wonderfully juicy. 2019-24
92 points
Radford Dale AD Pinot Noir 2016
Elgin, 13%
AD is made with the 115 and 777 clones and is all about perfume and approachability, with no whole bunches or new wood, just refined fruit from Elgin Orchards. Pretty and very enticing, it’s a Pinot Noir for lovers of Chambolle-Musigny. 2019-24
91 points
Radford Dale Syrah 2015
Stellenbosch, 13.5%
Laterite soils in Firgrove supply the fruit for this grippy, savoury Syrah. There’s a feral note to this wine, as well as 15% whole bunch spice. Firm and serious, even at lower alcohol levels, it needs time in bottle to soften. 2019-25
90 Points
Radford Dale Black Rock 2015
Swartland, 13.5%
Grown on granite soils in the Swartland, Black Rock is an everything-but-the-kitchen-sinkRhône blend of Syrah, Cinsault, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Viognier. It’s a tight, rather tannic wine at the moment with a funky undertone and good concentration. 2020-25
You can download the report in full from Tim's website www.timatkin.com for R395 or £20.
Freshly Pressed 2018
Port2Port
We've had the good fortune to meet the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (and two Ladies) ofRadford Dale this week - we suggest you read the story to get the reference here: https://bit.ly/2qorfICAlternatively, there's a special case right here:https://bit.ly/2JD2jVS And their individual wines available here: https://bit.ly/2EEtH25 With their Black Rock 2014 wine identified as Platter's Best Red Wine of 2017, we have a feeling you can't go wrong.
#ALeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemenAndTwoLadies#RadfordDale
— Products shown: Radford Dale - Vinum Chenin Blanc (2017), Radford Dale - Nudity Syrah (2015),Radford Dale - Thirst Gamay (2017), Radford Dale - Syrah (2014), Radford Dale - Thirst Clairette (2017),Radford Dale - Thirst Cinsault (2017), Radford Dale - Black Rock (2015), Radford Dale - Freedom Pinot Noir (2016), Radford Dale - Chardonnay (2016) andRadford Dale - Chardonnay (2013)
Super cool write up from Oddbins of our Thirst Gamay Noir:
