Dear *|FNAME|*,

There is a fine sense of detail and well-presented philosophy evident in this refreshed and re-positioned Vinum range from Radford Dale. The Vinum wines are about clarity, drinking pleasure and over delivering on elegance and refinement. That is a lot to achieve across a set of 6 wines, but they have managed to do so effortlessly.

Below R 200 per bottle, try them all to get a clear insight as to the purity and character these varieties can offer.

Bookended on the one side by the very impressive Vinum Chenin Blanc 2021, Christian Eedes writes how it is 'perfectly styled in the sense of being not too geeky nor too conventional'. Planted in 1969, the Renaissance Chenin vineyard forms the backbone of this release and the pedigree is immediately evident.

The Chenin is joined by the Vinum Chardonnay 2021. Again, it's made using fruit that used to go into the much-lauded (and much pricier) Radford Dale Chardonnay. It shows 'keen lemony fruit with a twist of pithiness and a tapering stony finish' notes Jamie Goode (92/100). It delights with an array of fruit at only 12.5% alc.

The theme continues with a fine thread of freshness, dry tannins and perfectly weighted fruit on their set of four reds. The Vinum Gamay Noir 2021 is subtle, delivering reined-in fruit with lots of detail. With less than 10 ha planted in SA, Gamay is still a rarity but this wine proves just how promising local cultivation is.

The Vinum Pinot Noir 2021 follows with a 'mouth-watering persistence' writes Julia Harding MW, and 'massive drinkability and nice freshness' adds Jamie Goode (93/100).

Christian Eedes's pick of the bunch is the Vinum Grenache 2021. Scoring it 93/100, he notes the 'good fruit definition, snappy acidity and powdery tannins', saying how it's 'an elegant and refined wine with both detail and poise'. There is so much to like here – it's a wonderful rendition of modern Grenache.

To complete the cycle is SA's very own grape. The Vinum Pinotage 2021 is made from Stellenbosch fruit and, like the Chenin above, has been made before. 'What an achievement to get this much flavour and balance at just 11.5% alcohol,' writes Julia Harding MW, 'way to go.' It is a great interpretation of what Pinotage can be – delicious, dry, and refreshing.

Reply to this email or visit our website to place your order online.

Vinous regards,

Tasting notes

Radford Dale, Vinum Chenin Blanc 2021

'12% alcohol. This is bright, vivid and citrussy with lovely acidity, but also some attractive pear and white peach notes. The keen acid line is the real backbone here: it's got plenty of concentration, but it's made in a linear, incisive style with real freshness, and a stony minerality. There's some mandarin and citrus peel on the finish, adding interest. Don't serve too cold.' – Jamie Goode, 93/100

Radford Dale, Vinum Chardonnay 2021

'12.5% alcohol. This is stony, mealy and citrussy on the nose, with a hint of pear drop. The palate is lively and intense with a stony, mineral edge to the citrus fruit, a hint of peach and pineapple richness in the background, and some bready hints. But the key theme is keen lemony fruit with a twist of pithiness and a tapering stony finish.' – Jamie Goode, 92/100

Radford Dale Vinum Gamay Noir 2021

'11.5% alcohol. This is a very light, fresh, supple expression of Gamay, with cranberry and cherry notes, a slight leafiness and some real brightness. There's lovely perfume and the fruit on the palate is deliciously crunchy – despite the low alcohol, this wine is ripe and it has a lot of drinkability. As with all these young Vinum reds, a decant is advised (they all taste great on day 2), and it can be served slightly chilled too.' – Jamie Goode, 93/100

Radford Dale, Vinum Pinot Noir 2021

'12.5% alcohol. Fresh, bright and aromatic with some green herby hints as well as vibrant plum and strawberry fruit. Bright and quite elegant, with sweet raspberry, cherry and plum fruit on the palate as well as some notes of spice, tar and wet stones. This has lovely poise: it tastes quite Elgin-like, with that stony, savoury, slightly grunty twist under the vibrant fruit, which melts away into silky elegance on day two after opening. Massive drinkability and nice frehness.' – Jamie Goode, 93/100

Radford Dale, Vinum Grenache 2021

'From an untrellised Helderberg vineyard planted in 2017 – De Klerk puts the high quality of the grapes down to much improved planting material than was the case in the past. Red currant, cherry, spice and even a slight meatiness on the nose while the palate shows good fruit definition, snappy acidity and powdery tannins. An elegant and refined wine with both detail and poise.' – Christian Eedes, 93/100

Radford Dale, Vinum Pinotage 2021

'From Stellenbosch grapes although classified as W.O. Coastal to accommodate other regions in future vintages. Again, vinfication involving carbonic maceration to facilitate a soft extraction. The nose shows a top note of floral perfume before red and black cherry plus a subtle earthiness. Good fruit expression, bright acidity and tannins that are firm but not astringent. Not too underdone at 11.5% alcohol, this a thoroughly modern and very likeable take on the variety.' – Christian Eedes, 91/100

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