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A magnum bottle of Riverside Chenin Blanc 2018 from our vinotheque. -
A magnum bottle of Riverside Chenin Blanc 2019 from our vinotheque.ACCOLADES
RIVERSIDE CHEN 21: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 20: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE RIVERSIDE CHEN 20: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 20: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) RIVERSIDE CHEN 20: 91 pts WINE SPECTATOR RIVERSIDE CHEN 19: 95 pts DECANTER RIVERSIDE CHEN 19: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE RIVERSIDE CHEN 19: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 19: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) RIVERSIDE CHEN 19: 91 pts WINE SPECTATOR RIVERSIDE CHEN 18: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 18: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) RIVERSIDE CHEN 18: 96 pts DECANTER RIVERSIDE CHEN 18: 96 pts WINE MAGAZINE RIVERSIDE CHEN 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE RIVERSIDE CHEN 17: 95pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 17: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE RIVERSIDE CHEN 17: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN RIVERSIDE CHEN 15: 93 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) RIVERSIDE CHEN 15: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 14: 5 stars PLATTER GUIDE 2016 RIVERSIDE CHEN 14: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) RIVERSIDE CHEN 14: 17 pts JANCIS ROBINSON RIVERSIDE CHEN 13: 89 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) RIVERSIDE CHEN 13: 4½ stars PLATTER GUIDE -
A magnum bottle of Steepside Syrah 2017 from our vinotheque.ACCOLADES
STEEPSIDE SYRAH 19: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 18: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 18: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 18: 92 pts WINE SPECTATOR STEEPSIDE SYRAH 17: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 17: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 17: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 17: 92 pts WINE SPECTATOR STEEPSIDE SYRAH 16: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 16: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 16: 96 pts DECANTER STEEPSIDE SYRAH 16: 92 pts WINE MAGAZINE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 16: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 15: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 15: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 15: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN STEEPSIDE SYRAH 14: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 14: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 14: 4½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 12: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 12: TIM ATKIN (MW) – Super Syrah: 70 top New World buys for Rhone Lovers, Decanter Magazine, Sep 2015 STEEPSIDE SYRAH 12: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 12: 4½ stars PLATTER GUIDE -
A magnum bottle of Topside Syrah 2017 from our vinotheque.ACCOLADES
TOPSIDE SYRAH 19: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE TOPSIDE SYRAH 18: 97 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 18: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) TOPSIDE SYRAH 18: 90 pts WINE SPECTATOR TOPSIDE SYRAH 17: 5 stars PLATTER GUIDE TOPSIDE SYRAH 17: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 17: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) TOPSIDE SYRAH 17: 90 pts WINE SPECTATOR TOPSIDE SYRAH 16: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 16: 96 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) TOPSIDE SYRAH 16: 95 pts DECANTER TOPSIDE SYRAH 16: 93 pts WINE MAGAZINE TOPSIDE SYRAH 16: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE TOPSIDE SYRAH 15: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 15: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE TOPSIDE SYRAH 15: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN TOPSIDE SYRAH 14: 93 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) TOPSIDE SYRAH 14: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 14: 5 stars PLATTER GUIDE 2017 TOPSIDE SYRAH 12: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 12: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) TOPSIDE SYRAH 12: 4½ stars PLATTER GUIDE -
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 27 November 2019. We produced 13074 bottles and 98 magnums.TASTING NOTE
Keermont Syrah 2018 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 exudes vibrant flavours of cherry and raspberry, complimented by savoury spice, and a vanilla note. A soft, but tight tannin structure and good natural acidity keep the flavours focused into a tidy succulent finish. Drink 2023-2033.VINTAGE REPORT
Despite prevailing drought conditions, 2018 was a very good growing season on Keermont. We had a fairly cold winter although it was drier than usual. Spring arrived quite early and the warm weather ensured an even budburst. We had some good rain showers during the season which allowed for the vines to grow sufficiently. These factors led to the formation of a healthy crop which ripened evenly. We had very notable diurnal temperature variation during this season (warm days and cool nights) which is responsible for good tannin, colour, and flavour development. Harvest started at the beginning of February and ran very smoothly. We processed 87 tons (13 varieties) in the Keermont winery over the period of seven weeks.BLOCKS
BLOCKVARIETYPLANTEDYIELD%SteepsideSyrah20055.3 ton/Ha30%SteepsideSyrah20092.7 ton/Ha10%TopsideSyrah20065.6 ton/Ha30%SweetwaterSyrah200614.6 ton/Ha19%SteepsideMourvèdre20092.2 ton/Ha11%ANALYSIS
Alc: 14.0 % pH: 3.66 TA: 5.2 g/L RS: 1.8 g/L TSO2: 51 mg/L VA: 0.72 g/LACCOLADES
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: 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) -
Planted in 1971, Riverside Chenin blanc is the oldest vineyard on Keermont and one of the oldest blocks on Chenin blanc in Stellenbosch. Soils on the banks of the Blaauwklippen River, in which the vines are planted, vary from sandy alluvial plains with river stone to red clay loam as one moves away from the river. This patchy old vineyard, at an elevation of 250m, delivers very low yields of incredible quality fruit year in and year out. Like the old vines from which it is made, this wine has great complexity and character with quiet intensity. Proud member of the Old Vine Project (www.oldvineproject.co.za). The yield from the Riverside Chenin blanc vineyard (2.14 HA) is so low that every bunch is used to make this wine. The vineyard is hand-picked in small sections according to where the grapes are perfectly ripe. The fruit is normally golden yellow in colour and peppered with delicious raisins. The grapes are crushed before being basket-pressed straight to the barrels where the juice will ferment. Fermentation is carried out by yeast which occurs naturally on the grape skins and in the winery. This wine was fermented and then spent a further 11 months maturing on the lees in three seasoned 500L French oak barrels. Bottling was carried out by hand and only 1665 bottles and 50 magnums of this wine were produced.TASTING NOTE
Lovely faint lime hue. The aromas are fresh with delicate floral notes of lily and salted cashew and a soft indication of oak. Classic old vine Chenin blanc. Floral notes give way to youthful fruit aromas of naartjie or mandarin zest and fresh white pear. Fruit is lightly seasoned with toasted Sesame and spicy undertones. The palate is crisp and dry up front, with racy acidity and a long finish. White fruit notes follow through from the nose, and pear and granny smith apple flavours are most evident. After some time in the glass, it shows cumin and ginger spice with characteristic salinity and light texture on the finish.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 galeforce 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.ANALYSIS
Alc: 14.0 % pH: 3.42 TA: 5.2 g/L RS: 1.6 g/L TSO2: 72 mg/L VA: 0.90 g/LACCOLADES
RIVERSIDE CHEN 21: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE RIVERSIDE CHEN 21: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 20: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE RIVERSIDE CHEN 20: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 20: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) RIVERSIDE CHEN 20: 91 pts WINE SPECTATOR RIVERSIDE CHEN 19: 95 pts DECANTER RIVERSIDE CHEN 19: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE RIVERSIDE CHEN 19: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 19: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) RIVERSIDE CHEN 19: 91 pts WINE SPECTATOR RIVERSIDE CHEN 18: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 18: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) RIVERSIDE CHEN 18: 96 pts DECANTER RIVERSIDE CHEN 18: 96 pts WINE MAGAZINE RIVERSIDE CHEN 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE RIVERSIDE CHEN 17: 95pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 17: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE RIVERSIDE CHEN 17: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN RIVERSIDE CHEN 15: 93 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) RIVERSIDE CHEN 15: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) RIVERSIDE CHEN 14: 5 stars PLATTER GUIDE 2016 RIVERSIDE CHEN 14: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) RIVERSIDE CHEN 14: 17 pts JANCIS ROBINSON RIVERSIDE CHEN 13: 89 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) RIVERSIDE CHEN 13: 4½ stars PLATTER GUIDE -
Planted in 2005 on the steep mid-slopes of the Helderberg Mountain range, the Steepside Syrah vineyard sits at an elevation of 300m. Vines grow in red clay loam soils with high levels of iron and quartzite originating from the peaks above. The combination of these deep granitic soils and the intensity of the sunshine on the North facing ridge allows the vineyard to produce wines with power and structure, while the spicy herbal aromatics can be attributed to the elevation and the pristine fynbos flora that surround it. All grapes used in producing this wine come from our Steepside 2 Syrah block (1.3Ha). Small parcels of grapes are specifically selected according to ripeness, harvested by hand and vinified separately. Fermentation is carried out by yeast which occurs naturally on the grape skins and in the winery. Red wines spend three to four weeks fermenting and macerating on the skins in small open top tanks with one or two gentle ‘punch-downs’ performed per day. This wine spent 20 months maturing in seasoned 225L and 500L French oak barrels before being bottled by hand and only 2822 bottles and 50 magnums were produced.TASTING NOTE
Deep, royal red in colour the Steepside Syrah has a brooding dusty red fruit character on the nose with hints of white pepper, cloves, and fynbos. The palate is soft and full with a gentle chalky tannin structure. Ripe spicey fruit flavours are complimented by notes of herbs and pepper. The delicate flavours and tannin linger into a succulent dry finish. Drink 2020-2028VINTAGE REPORT
Despite prevailing drought conditions, 2018 was a very good growing season on Keermont. We had a fairly cold winter although it was drier than usual. Spring arrived quite early and the warm weather ensured an even budburst. We had some good rain showers during the season which allowed for the vines to grow sufficiently. These factors led to the formation of a healthy crop which ripened evenly. We had very notable diurnal temperature variation during this season (warm days and cool nights) which is responsible for good tannin, colour, and flavour development. Harvest started at the beginning of February and ran very smoothly. We processed 87 tons (13 varieties) in the Keermont winery over the period of seven weeks.ANALYSIS
Alc: 14.5 % pH: 3.79 TA: 5.0 g/L RS: 1.0 g/L TSO2: 44 mg/L VA: 0.70 g/LACCOLADES
STEEPSIDE SYRAH 19: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 19: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 18: 88th place: JAMES SUCKLING TOP 100 SA WINES STEEPSIDE SYRAH 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 18: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 18: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 18: 92 pts WINE SPECTATOR STEEPSIDE SYRAH 17: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 17: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 17: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 17: 92 pts WINE SPECTATOR STEEPSIDE SYRAH 16: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 16: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 16: 96 pts DECANTER STEEPSIDE SYRAH 16: 92 pts WINE MAGAZINE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 16: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 15: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 15: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 15: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN STEEPSIDE SYRAH 14: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 14: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 14: 4½ stars PLATTER GUIDE STEEPSIDE SYRAH 12: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 12: TIM ATKIN (MW) – Super Syrah: 70 top New World buys for Rhone Lovers, Decanter Magazine, Sep 2015 STEEPSIDE SYRAH 12: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) STEEPSIDE SYRAH 12: 4½ stars PLATTER GUIDE -
Keermont Cabernet Sauvignon grows in our Cottage Lane vineyard on the mid-slopes of the Helderberg Mountain. This vineyard is situated on the crest of a ridge at 320m above sea level. It has aspects ranging from East through North to West and is very exposed, resulting in small, tight bunches and low yields. This has allowed us to make a relatively fine-grained Cabernet, while the clay soils translate to a wine with power, tension and fresh acidity. We blend in a couple of barrels of other varieties to add to the complexity of flavour and tannin structure. All grapes used in producing our wines are grown on Keermont Vineyards. Most of the vineyard parcels grow on deep red clay rich soil derived from sandstone and granite. The blocks are surrounded by indigenous fynbos vegetation. Our vineyards are planted on steep mid-slopes high up in the valley between the Stellenbosch and Helderberg Mountain ranges, between 250 and 400 meters above sea level. 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 21 months maturing in seasoned French oak barriques before being bottled by hand on 14 December 2022. The Keermont Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 was bottle aged in our cellar for 20 months before release to ensure integration and improved rinkability. 14 286 bottles and 100 magnums were produced. TASTING NOTE Dark ruby red in colour, this vintage has a vibrant bouquet of ripe red berry fruit, cassis, dustiness, and a hint of fresh herbs. The palate is fine and structured. The tannins are firm, while the natural acidity keeps the ripe fruit in check. Savoury notes of cocoa and cloves add character to the bright red strawberry and mulberry flavours which linger into a long-focussed finish. Best drinking:2026-2036. VINTAGE REPORT 2021 will be remembered as an excellent vintage at Keermont. Weather conditions were very favourable. It began with a wet winter and spring, followed by a very moderate growing season and a late cool and dry harvest. These factors, combined with a lot of hard work in the vineyards, led to the development of a healthy, evenly ripened crop. Although our yields per hectare were not particularly high, the quality was excellent. The grapes came in looking and tasting great with very good acidity and sugar levels. Picking and processing ran smoothly thanks to lessons learned in previous vintages, as well as a massive effort from the picking and winery teams. The Keermont winery crushed a total of 80 tons, all sourced from our own vineyards.BLOCKS
ANALYSIS Alc: 14.5 % pH: 3.55 TA: 5.3g/L RS: 1.8 g/L TSO2: 60 mg/L VA: 0.78 g/L ACCOLADES CAB 21: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE CAB 21: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) CAB 21: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous) CAB 20: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous) CAB 20: 91 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) CAB 19: 91 pts WINE SPECTATOR CAB 19: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE CAB 19: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous) CAB 18: 90 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous) CAB 18: 92 pts CHRISTIAN EEDES (Wine Magazine) CAB 18: 91 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) CAB 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE CAB 17: 90 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous) CAB 17: 91 pts CHRISTIAN EEDES (Wine Magazine) CAB 17: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) CAB 16: 4 ½ stars PLATTER’S GUIDE CAB 16: 95 pts NEAL MARTIN (Vinous) CAB 16: 92 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) CAB 15: 93 pts WINE ENTHUSIAST CAB 15: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) CAB 15: 4 stars PLATTER GUIDE CAB 15: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN CAB 14: 93 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) CAB 14: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate)BLOCKVARIETYPLANTEDYIELD%Cottage LaneCabernet Sauvignon20066.0 ton/Ha95%Pondok Rug 3Cabernet Franc20072.7 ton/Ha5% -
The Topside Syrah vineyard is situated high up on the West facing midslopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain range (Elevation 350m). It was planted in 2006 on rocky soils consisting of sandstone and granite, weathered from the peaks above with a little Malmsbury shale. Vines are unirrigated, trellised and run with the contour in a North South direction. The elevation, soil and aspect all contribute to spicy character and fine tannin structure of this wine. The views from the top of this vineyard west to False Bay and Table Mountain are simply breath taking. All grapes used in producing this wine come from our Topside Syrah block (1.7Ha). Small parcels of grapes are specifically selected according to ripeness, harvested by hand and vinified separately. Fermentation is carried out by yeast which occurs naturally on the grape skins and in the winery. Red wines spend three to four weeks fermenting and macerating on the skins in small open top tanks with one or two gentle ‘punch-downs’ performed per day. This wine spent 20 months maturing in seasoned 225L and 500L French oak barrels before being bottled by hand on 5 December 2019. Only 2822 bottles and 50 magnums were produced.TASTING NOTE
Dark plummy red in colour, the Topside Syrah 2018 is shy at first, but opens into a beautiful bouquet of black fruit with hints of ripe cherries, rose petal and white pepper. On the palate, the wine is tight and savoury with bold, grippy tannin structure. This anchors the powerful dark fruit with hints of herbs and pepper. The finish is long and focussed with juicy, succulent fruit notes and lingering tannin. Drink 2020-2030.VINTAGE REPORT
Despite prevailing drought conditions, 2018 was a very good growing season on Keermont. We had a fairly cold winter although it was drier than usual. Spring arrived quite early and the warm weather ensured an even budburst. We had some good rain showers during the season which allowed for the vines to grow sufficiently. These factors led to the formation of a healthy crop which ripened evenly. We had very notable diurnal temperature variation during this season (warm days and cool nights) which is responsible for good tannin, colour, and flavour development. Harvest started at the beginning of February and ran very smoothly. We processed 87 tons (13 varieties) in the Keermont winery over the period of seven weeks.ANALYSIS
Alc: 14.5 % pH: 3.57 TA: 5.4 g/L RS: 2.0 g/L TSO2: 42 mg/L VA: 0.69 g/LACCOLADES
TOPSIDE SYRAH 19: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE TOPSIDE SYRAH 19: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 18: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE TOPSIDE SYRAH 18: 97 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 18: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) TOPSIDE SYRAH 18: 90 pts WINE SPECTATOR TOPSIDE SYRAH 17: 5 stars PLATTER GUIDE TOPSIDE SYRAH 17: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 17: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) TOPSIDE SYRAH 17: 90 pts WINE SPECTATOR TOPSIDE SYRAH 16: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 16: 96 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) TOPSIDE SYRAH 16: 95 pts DECANTER TOPSIDE SYRAH 16: 93 pts WINE MAGAZINE TOPSIDE SYRAH 16: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE TOPSIDE SYRAH 15: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 15: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE TOPSIDE SYRAH 15: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN TOPSIDE SYRAH 14: 93 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) TOPSIDE SYRAH 14: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 14: 5 stars PLATTER GUIDE 2017 TOPSIDE SYRAH 12: 95 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) TOPSIDE SYRAH 12: 94 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) TOPSIDE SYRAH 12: 4½ stars PLATTER GUIDE -
Pondokrug - a ridge (rug) deriving its name from a shepherds hut (Pondok). High up on the West facing slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain, this is a 1.8Ha parcel of Cabernet Franc planted in 2006. At an elevation of 380m above sea level and surrounded by mountain ‘fynbos’ vegetation, this block is exposed to many natural elements resulting in very low yields. The soil on Pondokrug is red granitic loam with a high clay content which sustains the vines during the summer months. These factors allow us to produce an intense wine with unique flavours and a solid tannin structure. All grapes used in producing our wines are grown All grapes used in producing this wine are grown on two small terraces of Pondokrug. These small parcels of grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness and vinified separately. Fermentation is carried out by yeast which occurs naturally on the grape skins and in the winery. The wines spends three to four weeks fermenting and macerating on the skins in small open top tanks with one or two gentle ‘punch-downs’ performed per day. This wine spent 20 months maturing in seasoned 225 litre French oak barrels before being bottled by hand without filtration. 1370 bottles and 50 Magnums were produced.TASTING NOTE
The Pondokrug Cabernet Franc 2018 is bright blood red in colour. The nose is a deep, complex and intriguing mix of bright red cherry fruit, cloves, and some typical pyrazine character. The palate is firm and structured with subtle cherry and black current flavours with hints of herbal mountain vegetation (fynbos). The dusty, chalky tannins hold the fruit flavours into a long, succulent and dry finish. Drink 2024-2036.VINTAGE REPORT
Despite prevailing drought conditions, 2018 was a very good growing season on Keermont. We had a fairly cold winter although it was drier than usual. Spring arrived quite early and the warm weather ensured an even budburst. We had some good rain showers during the season which allowed for the vines to grow sufficiently. These factors led to the formation of a healthy crop which ripened evenly. We had very notable diurnal temperature variation during this season (warm days and cool nights) which is responsible for good tannin, colour, and flavour development. Harvest started at the beginning of February and ran very smoothly. We processed 87 tons (13 varieties) in the Keermont winery over the period of seven weeks.ANALYSIS
Alc: 15.0 % pH: 3.50 TA: 6.0 g/L RS: 1.7 g/L TSO2: 24 mg/L VA: 0.95 g/LACCOLADES
PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 19: 4 stars PLATTER GUIDE PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 19: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 18: 4 stars PLATTER GUIDE PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 18: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 18: 93 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 17: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 17: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 17: 90 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 17: 90 pts WINE SPECTATOR PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 16: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 16: 91 pts NEAL MARTIN (VINOUS) PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 16: 94 pts WINE MAGAZINE PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 16: 4 ½ stars PLATTER GUIDE PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 15: 96 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 15: 4 ½ star PLATTER GUIDE PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 15: 90 pts NEAL MARTIN PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 14: 92 pts NEAL MARTIN (Wine Advocate) PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 14: 94 pts TIM ATKIN (MW) PONDOKRUG CAB FRANC 14: 4 stars PLATTER GUIDE -
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
BLOCKVARIETYPLANTEDYIELD%SteepsideSyrah20054.2 ton/Ha14%High RoadMerlot20056.7 ton/Ha27%Cottage LaneCab Sauv20064.2 ton/Ha22%High RoadCab Franc20076.2 ton/Ha27%SteepsidePetit Verdot20054.6 ton/Ha5%HomesteadMalbec20074.4 ton/Ha5%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/LACCOLADES
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 -
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
BLOCKVARIETYPLANTEDYIELD%SteepsideSyrah20054.2 ton/Ha14%High RoadMerlot20056.7 ton/Ha27%Cottage LaneCab Sauv20064.2 ton/Ha22%High RoadCab Franc20076.2 ton/Ha27%SteepsidePetit Verdot20054.6 ton/Ha5%HomesteadMalbec20074.4 ton/Ha5%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/LACCOLADES
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
TASTING ROOM HOURS
Fri 10:30 to 13:30
Sat 10:00 to 15:00
Tue – Thu by Appointment
Closed Sundays & Public Holidays
ADDRESS
Keermont Vineyards
Upper Blaauwklippen Road
Stellenbosch, South Africa
SOCIAL MEDIA
CONTACT US
+ 27 (0)21 880 0397
info@keermont.co.za
TASTING ROOM HOURS
Fri 10:30 to 13:30
Sat 10:00 to 15:00
Tue – Thu by Appointment
Closed Sundays & Public Holidays
ADDRESS
Keermont Vineyards
Upper Blaauwklippen Road
Stellenbosch, South Africa
CONTACT US
+ 27 (0)21 880 0397
info@keermont.co.za
© Keermont Vineyards