Keermont Fleurfontein 2023

(375ml)

The KEERMONT FLEURFONTEIN (‘flower fountain’) derives its name from a beautiful spring on the farm. The Sauvignon blanc vineyard from which grapes are sourced for this wine lies just below this spring. We use a distinctive technique to produce raisins in the vineyard which give the Fleurfontein its concentration and sweetness.

Raisins are produced by using a pair of pliers to pinch the stem of the bunches while they ripen on the vine. This pinching action stops the translocation of fluids into and out of the grapes, which then stops them from becoming over ripe. We do this when the grapes are at optimal ripeness in order to concentrate the juice with the perfect sugar to acid balance. The grapes dry out naturally during the warm summer and are harvested a few weeks later. The syrupy juice is squeezed from them with a hard pressing process. This is slowly fermented by indigenous yeast in Hungarian and French oak barrels and then matures in these barrels for about 15 months. Total production for this bottling was seven barrels yielding 3900 bottles. All grapes used in producing this wine were grown on Keermont Vineyards. Processing, maturation, and bottling were carried out by hand in our cellar.

TASTING NOTE

Yellow gold in colour, the Fleurfontein 2023 exudes aromas of dried apricot, litchi, and pine apple with hints of almond, vanilla and sweet spice. The palate is full and creamy with concentrated flavours of dried fruit, honey vanilla biscuit and a touch of curry spice. A central core of acidity gives the wine a long, complex, salted caramel finish. Drink now through to 2035.

VINTAGE REPORT

2023 will be remembered as a wet vintage in the Cape. Winter was cold and wet (which is very beneficial for the vineyards and sets them on a good course for the vintage). While spring and the beginning of the growing season was cool and relatively dry, we did receive above average rainfall. December was very wet which created a lot of disease pressure and led to more growth in the vineyard.

Harvest was also wetter than usual, and we had to time our picking carefully to avoid dilution from the rain. Fortunately, the Fleurfontein grapes were able to dry under relatively healthy conditions and we produced a record 7 barrels of sweet wine.

BLOCKS

ANALYSIS

Alc: 12.5 %
pH: 3.45
TA: 7.2 g/L
RS: 230.9 g/L
TSO2: 155 mg/L
VA: 1.55 g/L

ACCOLADES

FLEURFONTEIN 23: 95 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous)
FLEURFONTEIN 22: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
FLEURFONTEIN 22: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous)
FLEURFONTEIN 21: 90 pts WINE SPECTATOR
FLEURFONTEIN 21: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
FLEURFONTEIN NV: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
FLEURFONTEIN NV: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
FLEURFONTEIN 19: 97 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous)
FLEURFONTEIN 19: 90 pts WINE SPECTATOR
FLEURFONTEIN 19: 93 pts WINE MAGAZINE
FLEURFONTEIN 19: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
FLEURFONTEIN 18: 95 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous)
FLEURFONTEIN 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
FLEURFONTEIN 18: 92pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
FLEURFONTEIN 17: 93pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
FLEURFONTEIN 17: 4 stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
FLEURFONTEIN 17: 93 pts NEAL MARTIN
FLEURFONTEIN 15: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
FLEURFONTEIN 15: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
FLEURFONTEIN 14: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
FLEURFONTEIN 14: 94pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
FLEURFONTEIN 13: FIRST CLASS British Airways
FLEURFONTEIN 13: 16.5 pts JANCIS ROBINSON
FLEURFONTEIN 12: 91pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
FLEURFONTEIN 12: 94 ptsTIM ATKIN (MW)
FLEURFONTEIN 12: FIRST CLASS British Airways
FLEURFONTEIN 12: 4½ starsPLATTER GUIDE 2015
FLEURFONTEIN 10: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
FLEURFONTEIN 10: 4 stars PLATTER GUIDE 2012