Our two Merlot vineyards are High Road with heavier clay and more rocky soils (altitude 330m) which leans toward more dense and concentrated wine; and Homestead Merlot (altitude 260m) in lighter, loamy soils which leans toward more elegant wine.
We follow a traditional winemaking philosophy which means indigenous yeast fermentation, no adjustment to acid or alcohol, maturation in seasoned oak barrels and bottling by hand with little or no filtration. This wine spent 19 months maturing in French oak barrels before being bottled on 28 October 2021. A total of 11720 bottles and 101 magnums were produced.
TASTING NOTE
The Keermont Merlot 2020 has a vibrant venetian red colour. Enticing spicy red fruit on the nose with hints of cinnamon, dried herbs, and Christmas pudding. Classical soft, fruitful palate with dark plums, cherries and delicate anise and dried orange notes. Fine dusty tannins hold the wine into a long savoury finish. Best drinking: 2023-2035.
VINTAGE REPORT
Winter temperatures leading up to the 2020 harvest were moderate, with below average rainfall. Fortunately, we had a wet Spring which prompted the vines to grow strong and develop a decent size crop. Early season was marked by erratic temperatures with several heat spikes. These factors made farming quite tough with increased pressure from disease and insects. The vineyard team worked hard to prepare a healthy crop.
Mid-Summer temperatures were moderate, although we did experience a short heat wave in January. This was followed by a gale-force South-East wind which hammered the vineyards. This resulted in the grapes ripening quickly. Although we started picking at a normal time, by 10 March we had picked all the grapes for our wines.
BLOCKS
|
BLOCK
|
VARIETY
|
PLANTED
|
YIELD
|
%
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Homestead
|
Merlot
|
2007
|
6.8 ton/Ha
|
48%
|
|
High Road
|
Merlot
|
2009
|
8.0 ton/Ha
|
42%
|
|
Pondokrug
|
Cabernet Franc
|
2007
|
3.6 ton/Ha
|
6%
|
|
Homestead
|
Malbec
|
2007
|
1.8 ton/Ha
|
4%
|
ANALYSIS
Alc: 15.0%
pH: 3.686
TA: 5.2 g/L
RS: 2.0 g/L
TSO2: 82 mg/L
VA: 0.94 g/L
ACCOLADES
MERLOT 21: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
MERLOT 21: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
MERLOT 20: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
MERLOT 20: 88 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous)
MERLOT 20: 90 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
MERLOT 19: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
MERLOT 19: 87 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous)
MERLOT 18: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
MERLOT 18: 90 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous)
MERLOT 18: 90 PTS CHRISTIAN EEDES (Wine Magazine)
MERLOT 18: 90 pts JAMES SUCKLING (MW)
MERLOT 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
MERLOT 17: 87 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous)
MERLOT 17: 89 PTS CHRISTIAN EEDES (Wine Magazine)
MERLOT 17: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
MERLOT 16: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
MERLOT 15: 4 stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
MERLOT 15: 91 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
MERLOT 15: 86 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
