Keermont Amphitheatre 2017

Keermont Vineyards is a specialist wine estate set in a naturally-formed amphitheatre between the Helderberg and Stellenbosch Mountain ranges. Selecting the best fruit from several vineyard sites on the farm, we create a blend each year which is distinctive, unique, and portrays the character of our superb terroir. This blend is Keermont Amphitheatre. All grapes used in producing our wines are grown on Keermont Vineyards. The vineyards grow on deep red clay rich soil derived from sandstone and granite and are surrounded by indigenous mountain ‘fynbos’ vegetation. Aspects vary from North East through North to West facing between 250 and 400 meters above sea level. This variety of slopes gives us complexity in our vineyards resulting in complexity in our wines.
Small batches of grapes are specifically selected according to ripeness, harvested by hand and vinified separately. This process is carried out gently and naturally in open top fermenters using traditional methods only.
This wine spent 28 months maturing in seasoned French oak barriques (first, second, third fill) before being bottled by hand without filtration on 18 July 2019. 4600 bottles and 100 magnums were produced. The Keermont Amphitheatre 2017 lay in bottle in our cellar for 5 years before release to ensure integration and maturity.

TASTING NOTE

Bright ruby red in the glass, the Keermont Amphitheatre 2017 opens with savoury herbal notes and rich ripe fruit complimented by hints of baked pudding, vanilla, cloves and potpourri. The palate is structured and tight. Vibrant red fruit flavours of strawberries and cherries with typical herbal notes with hints if tanned leather and sandal wood. Layers of flavour and tannin linger into a long, balanced savoury finish. Drink 2024-2037.

VINTAGE REPORT

2017 was an excellent growing season on Keermont. Despite a drier than usual winter, we had strong growth in the vineyards during the springtime. This led to the formation of a good healthy crop which ripened evenly during the warm, dry summer. Harvest started fairly early but was put on hold after a heavy rainfall in late January. This rejuvenated the vines and allowed for extended ripening which definitely raised the general quality. We recorded one of our largest and healthiest crops yet and grapes came in with great analysis and concentration.

BLOCKS

ANALYSIS

Alc: 15.0 %
pH: 3.59
TA: 5.8 g/L
RS: 2.5 g/L
TSO2: 54 mg/L
VA: 0.80 g/L

ACCOLADES

AMPHITHEATRE 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE
AMPHITHEATRE 18: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
AMPHITHEATRE 17: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE
AMPHITHEATRE 17: 91 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
AMPHITHEATRE 17: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS)
AMPHITHEATRE 16: 91 WINE SPECTATOR
AMPHITHEATRE 16: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE
AMPHITHEATRE 16: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
AMPHITHEATRE 16: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS)
AMPHITHEATRE 15: 95 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS)
AMPHITHEATRE 15: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
AMPHITHEATRE 15: 90 pts CHRISTIAN EEDES (Wine Magazine)
AMPHITHEATRE 15: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE