KYSELA PERE ET FILS, LTD.

"The 2022 Syrah Estate Reserve was dry-farmed on steep shale slopes with long hang-time on the vine. This vintage includes 50% whole bunch and aged in 500- and 700-liter barrels. It has an intense nose with black cherry, raspberry, Provençal herbs and wild thyme. The harmonious palate has a slightly powdery texture and wonderful backbone, reminiscent of a Côte-Rôtie, with white pepper and subtle fennel notes toward the nish. It feels quite linear at the moment, perhaps holding something back for later? Fabulous. - Neal Martin"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (August 2024), 95 pts

"In a tricky stage when I tasted it twice in the Cape, this needs more time in bottle to show at its best. Aromas of earth, beetroot, fynbos and blood usher you into a palate that's dense, compact and firm, with muscular tannins, redcurrant and damson fruit, plenty of acidity and minerality and well-integrated oak. 2025-30"
- Tim Atkin (South Africa 2024 Special Report), 94 pts

"Bursting with purple flowers and savory, spicy notes, the 2021 Estate Reserve Syrah was made with 50% whole-cluster fruit, offering a crunchy, red-fruited nose that pops with delightful tertiary expressions of turned earth and pencil lead. Light to medium-bodied and with 12% alcohol, the wine compresses slightly to show an earthy, graphite edge on the palate while slightly stemmy notes sway with fine-grained tannins across the mid-palate. Flavors of potpourri with spiced cherry skin somersault with red and purple flower essences before finishing with hints of pink peppercorn over the elegant and elongated finish. Just under 5,000 bottles were produced after the wine spent 11 months in 25% new oak barrels.. - Anthony Mueller"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (December 2çth 2023), 96 pts

""I'm very happy with 12% alcohol," says Samantha O'Keefe of the small quantities of this late-picked Syrah from Greyton's distinctly cool climate. Featuring 50% whole bunches, it's a taut, refreshing, intensely peppery, sage and oregano-scented style with cranberry and pomegranate"
- Tim Atkin (South Africa 2023 Special Report), 95 pts

"The 2021 Syrah Estate Reserve, which comes from the vineyard most damaged by the fire in 2020, is 50% whole bunches and aged of 500- and 700-liter barrels, 25% new. The potent nose has raspberry coulis, blueberry and touches of cough candy, taking its time to settle in the glass and lose its initial exuberance. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled, slightly chalky tannins. It’s fresh and vibrant, sapid towards the finish, with a long, Côte-Rôtie-like aftertaste and garrigue notes filtering through with time. This should be afforded a couple of years in bottle and will continue to evolve over the next 15-20 years. Just 12% alcohol, too. - Neal Martin"

- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (August 2023), 94 pts

"The 2018 Estate Reserve Syrah contains 50% whole-bunch fruit and is aged in 500- and 700-liter barrels, 30% new. It has an extremely pure, slightly floral bouquet of bright blueberry and black currant fruit infused with scents of crushed iris petals and violets, almost Burgundian in style. The palate is extremely well balanced with perfectly pitched acidity and filigreed tannins. There is an unerring sense of weightlessness about this Syrah, which is one of the most precise Lismore reds I have encountered over several years of tasting. Absolutely stunning. - Neal Martin"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2019), 97 pts

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"This is the best release yet from Lismore, superior even to the impressive 2017. Made from blocks that are now 13 years' old, this is wonderfully, enticingly floral, showcasing all that is best about Syrah: aromatic spices, layered cherry and strawberry fruit, bright acidity, some tannic backbone, subtle whole bunch notes and a long finish. The oak is on point, the alcohol daringly restrained. 2020-30 Greyton (13.2%)"
- Tim Atkin (South Africa 2020 Special Report), 97 pts

"The 2017 Estate Reserve Syrah comes entirely from Greyton, 40% whole cluster and aged in 500-liter barrels with 40% new oak. It has a very refined, perfumed bouquet of red cherries, crushed strawberry, broom, iris and a touch of potpourri. The palate is very well balanced, offering fine tannin on the entry, good weight in the mouth and blackberry, blueberry, clove, star anise and light fennel notes toward the finish. There is very good length here, but it needs another year or two in bottle to fully coalesce. Great potential. - Neal Martin"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (August 2018), 93+ pts

"Upon smelling the 2017 Estate Reserve Syrah, my first thought was "Wow, this reminds me of a young Côte-Rôtie." The nose of this wine has a glossy polish to it, with black fruit that expresses power and complexity while remaining pristine and elegant. After the impressive fruit aromas, the soft herbal and lavender tones flutter in, bringing with them soft oak tones and a nuance of spice rack. The palate has good mineral tension with the depth and breadth of expression only found in world-class Syrah. The finish is long with grippy tannins and begs me to take another sip. Samantha O'Keefe is clearly doing things right. The Lismore Estate wines are highly collectible and show amazing quality. - Anthony Mueller"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #245, October 2019), 93 pts

Go to Lismore Syrah Reserve