"(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
"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."
"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."
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"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
"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."
"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.