Publications
Partners
I often think what a shame it is to tell a story, without the possibility of experiencing it.
Thus, Radford Dale Imports' upcoming Southern Rhône Masterclass with Edouard Labeye, the Platter's Wine Guide 2024 Newcomer Winery of the Year (though I think Newcomer is a stretch given the 50 harvests he's completed between France and Radford Dale here in SA), showcasing 10 Southern Rhône wines from the Radford Dale Imports Portfolio at Culture Wine Bar in Cape Town this Thursday, offers a great learning opportunity.
To understand Southern Rhône, you need to understand it in context to Northern Rhône wines and the river Rhône that runs through both. Northern Rhône wines are usually single varietal Syrah, sometimes with a small percentage Viognier blended into it, or Marsanne and Rousanne. But seen as one of the ultimate expressions of Syrah, look for cru appellations like Côte Rôtie (meaning 'roasted slope'), or Condrieu (white wine only), Saint-Joseph, Hermitage (seen as the fullest expression of Northern Rhône Syrah with its steep slopes, closest to the river, you'll hear many SA winemakers reference the style in their own winemaking), Crozes-Hermitage (situated North and South of Hermitage, thus varying styles depending on geography), and Cornas (the most southernly cru in Northern Rhône, thus the warmest, made of 100% Syrah, deeply coloured, and full-bodied, much lauded and similar to Hermitage in style).
