Keermont Syrah 2019

KEERMONT SYRAH is a blend of three different Syrah vineyard sites growing on Keermont Vineyards:

Steepside Syrah: Growing on a North facing slope in deep, red clay-rich soils; this vineyard generally produces softer full bodied wines with rich, spicy flavours.

Topside Syrah: An unirrigated west facing vineyard planted at 400m above sea level on rocky sandstone-based soil. Topside Syrah is usually an aromatic wine with a solid structure and high natural acid.

Sweetwater Syrah: Situated in a rocky valley below the Fleurfontein spring, this is the coolest of the three Syrah sites and ripens the latest. Sweetwater Syrah is normally lighter and elegant in style with a herbal aroma. We add a small percentage of Mourvedre to this to bring some extra tannin structure and complexity.

Vinification:
All grapes used in producing our wines are grown on Keermont Vineyards. Small parcels 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 20 months maturing in seasoned 500 and 225 Litre French oak barrels before being bottled by hand on 10 December 2020. We produced 2708 bottles and 100 magnums.

TASTING NOTE

Keermont Syrah 2019 has a bright blood red colour with a lighter hue. The bouquet is enticing with strawberries and other red fruit and notes of sandal wood, tea leaf, cloves, and orange rind. The wine has a gentle entry onto the palate. It opens up with vibrant flavours cherry and raspberry complimented by savoury spice and a vanilla note. A soft, but tight tannin structure and good natural acid keep the flavours focussed into a tidy succulent finish. Drink 2025-2035.

VINTAGE REPORT

The 2019 vintage was quite a challenging one at Keermont. The yields were very small, but the wines have turned out beautifully. Coming off the back of four very dry years in the Cape, the vines were taking a bit strain. Winter rainfall was just slightly below average. Winter temperatures were moderate and perhaps not cold enough for the vines to break dormancy properly as we experienced quite uneven budding in spring. Spring started off cool and wet so the vines grew well, although the disease pressure was quite high. From that point onwards, the vintage conditions were good with some summer rains and warm temperatures without any major heat spikes. Harvest started on 30 January, but was interrupted by 40mm of rain the following week. This pepped the vines up for the final ripening of the grapes. Grapes were harvested in a very healthy condition although sugar levels were generally lower and acidity varied.

BLOCKS

ANALYSIS

Alc: 14.0 %
pH: 3.61
TA: 5.3 g/L
RS: 2.7 g/L
TSO2: 68 mg/L
VA: 0.68 g/L

ACCOLADES

SYRAH 19: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
SYRAH 19: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
SYRAH 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
SYRAH 18: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
SYRAH 18: 93 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous)
SYRAH 17: 91 WINE SPECTATOR
SYRAH 17: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
SYRAH 17: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
SYRAH 17: 90 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous)
SYRAH 16: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
SYRAH 16: 92 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
SYRAH 16: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
SYRAH 15: 91 pts WINE MAGAZINE
SYRAH 15: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
SYRAH 15: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
SYRAH 15: 93 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
SYRAH 14: 4 stars PLATTER’S GUIDE
SYRAH 14: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
SYRAH 14: 90 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
SYRAH 13: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
SYRAH 13: 4 stars PLATTER GUIDE
SYRAH 12: 95 pts (5 stars) DECANTER MAGAZINE
SYRAH 12: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
SYRAH 12: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW)
SYRAH 12: MATTHEW JUKES WoW in Money week:”my top red wine from the recent South African expo ….””the greatest South African sensory experiences of my year “-  21 November 2014
SYRAH 12: 4 stars PLATTER GUIDE
SYRAH 11: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
SYRAH 10: 93 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
SYRAH 10: 92pts JAMES MOLESWORTH (Wine Spectator)
SYRAH 10: 19/20 RENÉ GABRIEL
SYRAH 10: 92pts PETER MOSER (Falstaff)
SYRAH 09: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
SYRAH 09: 91pts JAMES MOLESWORTH (Wine Spectator)
SYRAH 09: 94pts PETER MOSER (Falstaff)