"(14%; just 1 g/l r.s.!; aged in seasoned oak; from vines planted in 2005 on the slopes of Helderberg Mountain): Dark red with ruby tones. Complex nose offers dark berries, wild herbs and spices, with a balsamic quality and subtle lift from dried flowers. Suave and fine-grained in the mouth, with lovely precision and aromatic lift to the lightly saline flavors of red and darker fruits, flowers, spices, iron and botanical herbs. Finishes bone-dry, restrained and very long, with harmonious tannins. This very refined yet exotic Syrah needs time to expand in bottle. A very strong performance for young vines. - Stephen Tanzer"
- Vinous (June 2015), 92 pts
Go To Keermont Steepside Syrah
"The 2012 Steepside Syrah owes its names to the vines planted on the vertiginous slopes of the Helderberg Mountain at an elevation of around 300 meters. A special selection is made from small parcels and the wine is fermented in open-top fermenters before maturation in used French barrels for 20 months. It has a very precise bouquet with complex wild strawberry, raspberry and mineral notes that are tightly wound at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, crisp acidity and a broody but compelling finish that will need a couple of years to unfold. Enjoy this Cornas-style Syrah from 2016."
"Lush and layered, with warm plum, boysenberry and blackberry compote notes stretched out over melted licorice and ganache flavors. The long, spice-infused finish lets the fruit drip slowly. A hedonist's delight. Drink now through 2020. 72 cases made."
"Another brilliant release from this clay loam and granite-based site, this ranks among the five best Syrahs in the Cape. Grippy, spicy and perfumed, it’s a wine with sappy, almost bloody notes, firm yet fine tannins and a core of dark, brooding fruit and acidity. Stunning stuff. Drink: 2017-27."
"The 2015 Steepside Syrah comes from vines at around 350 meters above sea level, from similar clonal material to the Topside but on deep clay/loam soils, while the vines are oriented to the north. It spent 20 months maturing in seasoned 225- and 500-liter French oak barrels before being bottled by hand without filtration. This has a more fruit-forward bouquet than the Topside, featuring small red cherries, raspberry, briar and light cassis scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin and crisp acidity, quite compact at the moment and probably deserving around 18 to 24 months in bottle. Good potential here, although the Topside offers the elegance and sophistication this year. - Neal Martin"
"The 2015 Steepside Syrah gives classic notes of blackberry, cassis and plum skin, with a structuring mineral tone reminiscent of dust—almost ashy—and lingers in the glass with hints of black pepper. The palate is dry and focused with a bright, structured core and mineral tension to the mid-palate, finishing with lingering soft, smoky spices. Only 2,571 bottles were made. - Anthony Mueller"