KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD.

"Sourced from a single, old-vine block close to the river on the Keermont farm, this is a layered, effortlessly complete Chenin Blanc from Alex Starey that displays a lovely medley of nectarine, apple and honey flavours, subtle wood spices and a long, slightly salty finish. 2024-30"

- Tim Atkin (South Africa 2023 Report), 94 pts

"Sourced from clay and alluvial soils close to the winery on the Upper Blauuwklippen Road, this is an engagingly focused, layered, refreshing Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc from Alex Starey, showing lots of stony minerality, pear and green apple flavours and slightly salty undertone. 2023-28"

- Tim Atkin (South Africa 2022 Report), 94 pts

"The 2019 Chenin Blanc Single Vineyard Series Riverside comes from a heritage block planted in 1971. Matured in seasoned oak for 12 months, it has a tightly-wound nose on the entry with light oily/linseed aromas, hints of yellow plum developing with aeration. The palate has a lovely balance and is slightly waxy in texture with fine acidity, yellow plum, hints of toffee apple and caramelised pear. Fine length, this is a Chenin that deserves bottle age. - Neal Martin"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (September 2022), 92 pts

"This white wine comes from old vines planted in 1971. There is a lot of complexity in its aromas. The delicate nose offers flowers, lime and hints of vanilla. White peach, lime and honey fill the mouth. It finishes with toasted oak notes. - Jesica Vargas"

- Wine Enthusiast (June/July 2023), 90 pts

"Riverside isn't made every year - there was no 2016, for example - but what a wine it is in 2017. Now part of the Old Vine Project, it hails from a site that was planted in 1971 and is wonderfully layered and complex, with pithy minerality at its core, subtle oak and undertones of fennel and baking spices. A triumph. 2021-28"

- Tim Atkin (South Africa 2020 Report), 95 pts

"Subtle bouquet of orange blossom, cling peach, and beeswax. Taut and focused, revealing dried orange peel and apricot pit on a dense, mineral like palate. Sourced from the oldest vineyard on the farm, planted in 1971-2, it’s a selection of the best 500L barrels. About 250 cs produced. 13.5% alc."

- International Wine Review (January 2019), 93 pts

Go To Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc

"From vines planted at 250m next to the Blaauwklippen River back in 1971, this undemonstrative but utterly convincing Chenin needs a little time in the glass to unfold, like a fern in spring. When it does, you’ll find classic wet stone and apple aromas with a lick of honey. The palate is intense, deep and stony, subtle in articulation with a beeswax richness haunting its orchard fruit, while its vinosity brings food-friendliness. It's hard to better this for purity and classicism. Drinking Window 2019 - 2023."

- Decanter (February 2019), 93 pts

"The 2017 Riverside Chenin Blanc comes from the oldest block on the farm, planted in 1972. It was fermented in a combination of new and seasoned French oak barrels and then spent a further 12 months maturing on the lees. It has a fragrant bouquet of yellow flowers, honeysuckle, Cornice pear and light stony aromas. The palate is well balanced with satisfying weight on the entry. I appreciate the waxy texture here and the pithiness toward the finish; hints of sour lemon, sherbet and light ginger/rhubarb appear on the aftertaste. Enjoy this Chenin over the next decade. - Neal Martin"

- Vinous (August 29th 2018), 91 pts

Go To Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc

"Alex Starey has played a blinder here. Planted in 1971, Riverside is the oldest Chenin vineyard on the Keermont farm. Soils here, on the banks of the upper Blaauwklippen River, vary from sandy alluvial plains with river stone to red clay loam. According to Starey, this vineyard delivers very low yields of extraordinarily high-quality fruit year in, year out.
This wine, of which only 1,994 bottles have been produced, was fermented in a combination of new and used French oak barrels and then spent a further 12 months maturing on the lees."

- The Drinks Business (January 2017), 10 STELLAR SOUTH AFRICAN CHENINS

Go To Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc

"The 2015 Riverside Chenin Blanc spends around 12 months in 500-liter oak barrels and around one-third new oak. Alex told me that he tries to buy neutral barrels to limit their influence on the taste and there is no bâtonnage. It has a very seductive bouquet of lemon curd, custard crème and a touch of vanilla, very subtle though and extremely delineated. The palate is fresh on the entry with lime, sour lemon and Cornice pear notes, the acidity well judged and demonstrating fine weight and detail on the finish. This is a thoroughbred Chenin Blanc that will offer a decade's worth of pleasure. Just 1,994 bottles produced, so grab one. - Neal Martin."

- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (Issue #230, April 28th 2017), 93pts

Go To Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc

"This single vineyard Chenin Blanc comes from a block that was planted in 1972. Basket pressed and naturally fermented, it’s all pear, green apple, fennel and beeswax, supported by
minerality and focus. The oak is just a whisper. Drink: 2016-21"

- Tim Atkin (September 2016), 93 pts

Go To Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc

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- Wine Enthusiast (April 2018), 91 pts

Go To Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc

"The 2014 Riverside Chenin Blanc will be released around November this year. Alex Starey told me that he used a similar section of the vineyard. He had to use two new barrels because he ran out out of used ones! That said, it is difficult to discern the new oak on the nose, attractive nutmeg and spice notes developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a waxy texture, rounded in the mouth with nicely judged acidity, reining everything in towards the finish with just a touch of lemongrass lending frisson. This is very fine. - Neal Martin."

- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (November 2015), 92pts

Go To Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc

"A friendly, creamy style, with white peach, quince and yellow apple fruit flavors gliding through, backed by a salted butter edge on the finish. This has some depth and seems likely to unwind a bit more with modest cellaring. Drink now through 2018. 48 cases made. –JM."

- Wine Spectator (June 15th 2017), 91 pts

Go To Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc

"(a single-vineyard wine, from vines planted in 1971; fermented in new and used French oak, then aged for 12 months on its lees): Medium straw-yellow with gold highlights; conveys an unfiltered appearance. Wild aromas of orange zest, toast and hazelnut--even a note of musky butterscotch. Plush, nutty entry, then full, broad and bone-dry in the middle, with very subtle stone and soft citrus fruit flavors complicated by musky notes of oak and lees. Boasts serious palate presence, and a finish firmed and extended by brisk acidity. The creamy middle almost gives this wine a suggestion of sweetness but this rather sophisticated Chenin Blanc is about more than just fruit.- Stephen Tanzer"

- Vinous (May 2017), 90 pts

Go To Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc