Radford Dale Gravity 2013

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grape: Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon

Volume: 75cl

ABV: 14.5%

Vintage: 2013

Suitable for Vegans: No

Food pairing: Grilled red meat over charcoal, big flavours – shin of beef  

Radford Dale was founded in 1998. Alex Dale, a Brit, and Ben Radford, an Australian, are the joint partners of this brand. They set up this brand with the sole objective of making high-quality wines from the vineyards spread across the Western Cape. Alex and Radford have many years of wine experience between them, which reflects in the quality of wines that they craft under this label.

Instead of producing the super ripe and overblown wines that seem to dominate the premium red blend category, the aim with Gravity has always been to craft a complex and seamless blend reflecting the fine balance between fruit ripeness and earthy vinosity that can be achieved in this incredible mountain vineyard. 

The exceptional structural integration of the tannin into the overall palate of the wine is its hallmark. Each varietal contributes its unique facet: the Syrah (62%) provides its persevering spiciness and its gutsy, supple body; and the Cabernet (38%) offers its blueberry backbone and dense, ripe tannins. 

Knitted together by patient hands-off maturation until the ensemble, as with all good blends, becomes more than the sum of its parts. 

The finish of the wine shows the maritime influence of False Bay in the guise of the fresh acidity and savoury minerality that may be enjoyed to its full, after decanting, with a hearty-and preferably festive-dinner…

Each parcel of these vines is situated on ocean-facing, mountain slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. These milder maritime areas of Stellenbosch benefit from the cooling influence of the ocean breezes and the relative altitude. We pre-select the fruit in the vineyard by dropping any fruit which is not in top condition just before harvest. All grapes are then hand-picked and hand-sorted again to ensure only the best bunches make the final blend. No grapes find their way into this wine unintentionally!