Mountainside Syrah

Pair with lamb, sausages, and grilled meats of all kinds.

Two mature, trellised, mountainside vineyards, planted with a variety of clones produce this Syrah. In 2019, the effects of the preceding 3-year drought in the Western Cape are still evident and have resulted in smaller than usual crop levels. We experienced a fairly cool ripening period in December and January, especially during the evenings, resulting in very even and slow ripening.

Malolactic fermentation took place in barrel. The wine was barrel matured for about 14 months before bottling.

Grapes were picked by hand in the cool of the morning and then hand sorted with particular focus on excluding any raisins or berries which had seen too much sun so that the natural purity could be highlighted. From there the grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed and left to “cold soak” for three days at low temperatures. Natural fermentation with no addition of yeast and a submerged cap method was employed so that the wine expresses the site and the vintage instead of having a predetermined set aromas and flavours. The wine was pressed soon after the fermentation was completed and transferred to barrel.

The Radford Dale Philosophy brings together the natural qualities of the geology & climate of the Cape of Good Hope with the experience & passion of a team of friends from the Old World & the New. Together they make some of the finest rarest & most individual wines of this incredible region.