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 powerful 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 a more aromatic wine with good structure and 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.

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 without filtration on 21 December 2018. We produced 12 665 bottles and 145 magnums.

 

TASTING NOTE

Keermont Syrah 2017 has a bright red colour with a lighter hue. The bouquet is explosive with spicy red fruit and notes of sandalwood, tea leaf, cloves, and orange rind. The wine has a dry, gentle entry onto the palate, and opens up with cherry and raspberry flavours complimented by savoury spice and a black pepper note. A gentle, but tight tannin structure and good natural acid keep the flavours focussed into a tidy succulent finish. Drink 2022-2032.

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 Spring time. 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

BLOCK
VARIETY
PLANTED
YIELD
%
Steepside
Syrah
2005
4.2 ton/Ha
30%
Steepside
Syrah
2009
4.0 ton/Ha
10%
Topside
Syrah
2006
5.4 ton/Ha
30%
Sweetwater
Syrah
2006
10.7 ton/Ha
27%
Steepside
Mourvèdre
2009
2.2 ton/Ha
3%

ANALYSIS

Alc: 14.0 %
pH: 3.55
TA: 5.11 g/L
RS: 1.24 g/L
TSO2: 94 mg/L
VA: 0.67 g/L

ACCOLADES

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: 17 pts JANCIS ROBINSON
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 10: 17.5pts JULIA HARDING (MW) (Jancis Robinson)
SYRAH 09: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)
SYRAH 09: 91pts JAMES MOLESWORTH (Wine Spectator)
SYRAH 09: 94pts PETER MOSER (Falstaff)