Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc

Radford Dale Vinum Chenin Blanc 2020

Price: $19.95 750ml
Channel: LCBO Vintages

Producer: Radford Dale
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Appellation: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Chenin Blanc
Alcohol by Volume: 12.5%
Sugar Content: 5 grams per litre

Ben Radford and Alex Dale’s eponymous winery ticks all the boxes of modern South African production, from sustainable environmental practices to give back programs to address social inequality. They also make sophisticated wines, at every price level, that reflect the terroir and long winemaking history of the Western Cape. The Vinum label series, in particular, focuses on elevating long grown South African grape varietals, like Chenin Blanc. At $20 it’s an incredible value, and could easily compete blind with fancy Chenin from the Loire that fetches twice the price.

The 2020 Vinum Chenin Blanc is a rich big white. Strong stone fruit is seasoned lightly with oak notes, then does a long fade into Chenin’s trademark honey tones. Fresh acidity makes this a food wine that wants shrimp, or maybe grilled chicken and a long lunch with a good friend.