The Winery of Good Hope

The Winery of Good Hope was established in 1998 by Ben Radford and Alex Dale. The winery produces 4 ranges of wine, with the Radford Dale range being the premium.  The cellar is situated in the Helderberg Mountains, 4 kilometres from the ocean. As a result, the vines benefit from cooling breezes, preventing the grapes from becoming overripe and allowing the wines to retain freshness.

I was met by Angela Jordaan, who is part of the sales team, for a tour of the farm and cellar. We tasted new vintages in barrel with winemaker Jacques De Klerk before tasting through the Radford Dale range in bottle. Jacques makes his own fantastic Chenin Blanc under the 'Reverie' label and it is well worth seeking out.

Notes on the Radford Dale Range below.

2013 Chardonnay

The grapes came from 20 year old vines that were harvested in two pickings, one week apart. This method of picking the grapes allows for the freshness and high acidity of the early picking to blend with the riper flavours of the later pick, creating complexity and balance in the wine. The wine was fermented and matured in large oak barrels, with 10% being new wood. There is concentrated lemon rind on the nose, fleshed out by a slight buttery creaminess. On the palate the ripe citrus fruits and crisp acidity lend freshness to the weighty, textured mouthfeel. 

2013 Freedom Pinot Noir

Sourced from 3 different vineyards in the cooler climate of Elgin, this is a wine that demonstrates elegance and finesse over ripeness and opulence. Aromatic red berries and wild strawberry on the nose are given depth by earthier, herbal flavours. The wine is well balanced and soft, integrated tannin provides a slight grip on the finish. 

2014 Nudity Syrah

Sourced from 30 year old vines in an organic single vineyard on the Paardeberg mountain, the wine has absolutely no sulphur addition. It is a remarkable wine, with vibrant, expressive black cherry on the nose and and layer after layer of flavour on the palate. The wine has a textural elasticity, it reverberates around the mouth delivering concentrated, pure fruit and finishes with finessed tannin.

2013 Black Rock

A blend of Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mouverde and Viognier from Swartland fruit. Spice and aniseed mix with lively black fruits on the nose. Youthful notes of blueberry and violet are layered over black plum and a fresh, flinty characteristic on the palate. 

2013 Syrah

A restrained, thoughtful expression of Syrah. Aromas of plum and dark cherry are given a broodiness by pepper and fynbos notes. The wine is fresh, with a crisp acidity and fine tannin that provides backbone and structure. 

2014 Thirst Gamay

A recent addition to the Radford Dale range is the 'Thirst Gamay', an unusual Beaujolais style wine that is massively fun but certainly not silly. The wine undergoes carbonic maceration in the cellar  (basically grapes are fermented whole in a closed tank filled with carbon dioxide) and as a result, is fresh, fruity and low in tannin. The nose is bursting with cranberry and strawberry fruit and a bracing acidity gives the wine an ethereal drinkability- you'll be wondering how you finished the bottle so quickly. 

Thirst Gamay

@bobbyfishel

http://www.thewineryofgoodhope.com/