Deep, soulful, and beautifully composed, Black Rock 2015 is the Western Cape in full voice. The nose opens with dark plum, black cherry and sun-warmed herbs, layered with graphite, dried thyme, and a flicker of spice. On the palate, it’s generous yet poised with silky tannins wrapping around fruit that’s both ripe and lifted, grounded by the earthy, stony minerality of the Swartland. There’s real depth here, but also restraint: a wine that whispers confidence rather than shouting it.

For when: The evening calls for something bold but beautifully balanced.
Pairs with: Grilled rib-eye, roast vegetables, or an open fire and good conversation.
If this wine were: A desert landscape after rain, wild, powerful, and quietly alive.

Founded in 1998 by Ben Radford and Alex Dale, Radford Dale has become one of South Africa’s most respected names for honest, terroir-driven wines. Based in Stellenbosch but sourcing from exceptional old-vine parcels across the Cape, the team champions minimal intervention and sustainability. Black Rock is their tribute to the rugged beauty of the Swartland, a blend of Syrah, Carignan, Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Cinsault grown on decomposed granite and schist. The 2015 vintage, one of the Cape’s finest in decades, produced wines of remarkable purity and structure. Matured in large French oak for finesse rather than force, it captures the essence of the region: raw earth, radiant fruit, and quietly enduring elegance.