"Samantha O’Keefe, a Los Angeles native, moved to South Africa in 2000 and settled in the Overberg district at the foot of the Riviersonderend Mountains. Her Lismore winery is currently the only producer in Greyton, one of the region’s newest appellations. More may follow after a taste of this peppery cool-climate syrah. Scents of blueberries and blackberries invite a sip, then notes of beef broth, dried herbs and tobacco follow. O’Keefe fermented it with 40 percent whole clusters in large oak casks, then extended its time on the skins before mellowing the intensity over nine months in a 3,000-liter oak vat. The wine has a touch of oak spice and vanilla bean yet it feels graceful from start to finish."
- Wine & Spirits Magazine (November 2019), 95 pts
"Silky and sappy, with layers of fruit and spice that unfurl as each sip glides across the palate. Forest floor and leather like a baseball mitt are intertwined with blackberries, huckleberries, raspberries, orange pith, springtime flowers just after the rain, and a savory pulse of mineral through the mouthwatering finish. - Brian FREEDMAN"
- Food & Wine (The 42 Best Syrahs to Buy Right Now, June 11th 2021)
"On the nose, the 2017 Syrah begins with a dark-fruited core of blackberry, black cherry and a rustic rocky minerality with a soft spiciness. The palate shows remarkable focus and expresses the heart of Syrah with spicy floral potpourri notes across the mid-palate. The finish is long and thoughtful with a youthful tannic grip and lingering flavors of black pepper with smoky herbs. It is an impressive wine and is sure to please. - Anthony Mueller"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #245, October 2019), 92 pts
Go to Lismore Syrah
"Greyton and Elgin are the joint sources of this delicious Syrah from one of the best exponents of the grape in South Africa. Explosively aromatic with violet and rose petal perfume, red cherry and raspberry fruit, subtle oak and some underlying grip from 50% whole bunches. Wonderfully, lip-smackingly drinkable. 2020-25"
- Tim Atkin (SA Special Report 2020), 94 pts
"The 2017 Syrah comes from Elgin and Greyton and includes 40% whole-bunch fruit aged in 500- and 700-liter barrels (30% new). It has a gorgeous bouquet of raspberry, pomegranate, burning embers and crushed violet aromas that seem to give the olfactory senses a big hug. The palate is quite brilliantly balanced, the fine tannins framing vivid brambly red and black fruit laced with cracked black pepper, dessicated orange peel, clove and an undercurrent of garrigue that becomes more prominent on the persistent finish. A fabulous Syrah from proprietor and winemaker Samantha O’Keefe. - Neal Martin"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2019), 95 pts
Go to Lismore Syrah
"The 2018 Syrah has an intense, peppermint-scented nose, quite pure and floral; wild fennel and sage aromas percolate through with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied, fleshy and grippy, with fine tannins and a minty finish. I just feel this needs a little more class and sophistication. While not occupying the same ethereal space as the Estate Reserve Syrah, this should give immense pleasure over the next decade. - Neal Martin"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2021), 90 pts
"This Cape South Coast Syrah marries grapes from Greyton and mostly Elgin. Fermented with 50% whole bunches and aged in older wood, it's peppery, spicy and youthful, with grippy tannins, taut acidity and layers of red cherry, fynbos and blackberry fruit. 2023-28"
- Tim Atkin (South Africa Special Report 2021), 92 pts
