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The Keermont Syrah 2014 has a warm strawberry red colour. It has an enchanting bouquet of violets, dusty sandal wood and a hint of spicy red fruit. The palate is elegant and soft, and has a clean linear acidity. It has a strong floral character with spicy red fruit and hints of cherry sherbet. The tannins are dusty and dry and the wine has a long earthy herbal finish. Drink 2017 - 2026.
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| Item Number | Unit | Units/Case | Type | UPC - bottle | SCC - case | SRP/Unit |
| SA0CC2450--SYM | 1.5L | 1 | Glass | 7 84585 01590 0 | 1 07 84585 01590 7 | $85.00 |
| SA0EE245025SYM | 750ml | 6 | Glass | 7 84585 01378 4 | 1 07 84585 01378 1 | $39.95 |
KEERMONT SYRAH 2014 is a blend of three different Syrah vineyard sites growing on Keermont Vineyards: Steepside Syrah: Growing on a North facing slope in deep, red clay-rich soils; this vineyard generally produces powerful full bodied wines with rich, spicy flavours. Topside Syrah: An unirrigated west facing vineyard planted at 400m above sea level on rocky sandstone-based soil. Topside Syrah is usually a more aromatic wine with good structure and natural acid. Sweetwater Syrah: Situated in a rocky valley below the Fleurfontein spring, this is the coolest of the three Syrah sites and ripens the latest. Sweetwater Syrah is normally lighter and elegant in style with a herbal aroma.
All grapes used in producing our wines are grown on Keermont Vineyards. Small parcels of grapes are specifically selected according to ripeness, harvested by hand and vinified separately. This process is carried out gently and naturally in open top fermenters using traditional methods only. This wine spent 20 months maturing in seasoned 500 and 225 Litre French oak barrels before being bottled by hand without filtration on 3 December 2015. We produced 14116 bottles and 104 magnums.
Vintage Report: The Keermont Syrah 2014 has a warm strawberry red colour. It has an enchanting bouquet of violets, dusty sandal wood and a hint of spicy red fruit. The palate is elegant and soft, and has a clean linear acidity. It has a strong floral character with spicy red fruit and hints of cherry sherbet. The tannins are dusty and dry and the wine has a long earthy herbal finish. Drink 2016 - 2026.
Lab Analysis:
Alc: 14.65 %
pH: 3.75
TA: 4.9 g/L
RS: 2.0 g/L
TSO2: 100 mg/L
VA: 0.65 g/L
"Three different sites on the Keermont farm - Steepside, Topside and Sweetwater - supply grapes for this intense, yet subtly oaked Syrah. Scented, spicy and refined, it has classic pepper grinder notes, sweet red fruit and a hint of black olive. 2018-24"
- Tim Atkin (South Africa 2017 Special Report), 94 pts
- Tim Atkin (SA Special Report, September 2016), 93 pts
"A ripe, lush style, with warm raspberry, boysenberry and blackberry confiture flavors gushing forth, backed by black licorice and singed apple wood notes. Has the spine for balance, but this is aimed at the fruit-bomb crowd. Drink now through 2020. 466 cases made."
- Wine Spectator (September 2016), 91 pts
"The 2011 Syrah spent 24 months in second and third fill French barrels, 225-liters and 500-liters in size with just one barrel new. It offers a glorious bouquet with precocious but beautifully defined black cherries and blueberry fruit interlaced with dried violets. The palate is medium-bodied with a fresh, marine-influenced entry. The tannins are taut and frame this symmetrical Syrah that ends with an elegant, spicy and saline finish that begs the imbiber to take another sip. Overall this is another superb effort from Keermont. Drink 2014-2020. - NM"
eRobertParker.com (Issue# 209, October 2013), 91 pts
"Sweet vanilla aroma. Sweet blueberries on the palate. Dense, chewy tannins. Ambitious rather than refined, I thought at first. Masses of flavour and lots of structure but has a redeemingly dry texture that makes you stop and re-evaluate. Great potential for complexity and very long."
Jancis Robinson (South Africa's Next Generation, May 7th 2013),
"Alex told me that a storm deprived them of 40-50% of the Syrah crop, which ended up concentrating the wine. Just eight barrels were produced of the 2010 Syrah, which includes a new high altitude vineyard that may be bottled separately in the future. It has an intriguing bouquet that demands coaxing from the glass. It is worth the wait, for eventually you are rewarded with blackberry, iodine, mint and fresh prune that is exotic and yet very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, tight-wound tannins. There is a touch of spice infusing the dark plum fruit, the used oak remaining well behaved in the background and allowing the fruit to express itself. It offers an enticing bitter edge on the finish that compels you to take another sip. Drink 2013-2020. Keermont was one of the most impressive Stellenbosch wines that I encountered during my trip last year – once I could entice winemaker Alex Starey away from his surfboard. Fortunately, when not riding waves he continues to find time making his superb wines."
eRobertParker.com (Neil Martin, Issue# 204, December 2012), 93 pts
"A dark, engaging, juicy style, with lots of blackberry, bramble, crushed plum and singed anise notes. This is layered with toast and espresso, displaying drive and sharp definition. Drink now through 2016.—J.M."
Wine Spectator (May 31st 2013), 92 pts
"Good dark ruby-red. Captivating if restrained aromas of blackberry, smoked meat, pepper and herbs. Not especially fleshy but spicy and aromatic in the mouth, with a black fruit confiture flavor complicated by a touch of dried berries. Still rather youthfully tight, finishing with substantial dusty tannins and lingering perfume."
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Issue #168, May/June 2013), 89 pts
"Alex Starey is one of the new breed of Stellenbosch winemakers. I am considering asking the South African authorities to do a selection massale of Alex, maybe take graftings from his hair, in order to create new winemakers that can be distributed across the region. Seriously though, Alex has really put Keermont on the map in recent years with a succession of superb Rhône blends. I asked him whether there has been any recent changes. "We have planted Roussanne and Marsanne recently," he told me. "That is the only major change. The first crop will be 2017 and the idea is to eventually add them into the Terrasse. The 2014 Terrasse was a bigger vintage in terms of production than normal. Predominantly 30% of fruit comes from the old Riverside block and is supplemented with Chenin Blanc from Low Ride and a new plot - Bobbejaan vineyard, which apparently the baboons still love. They still eat a few grapes. Chardonnay will come in next year from the old terraces that were farmed in the 1970s. I've been trying to capture the freshness, so I had to pick quite quickly in 2014, but we can't push it too far." Needless to say, these are outstanding wines that do the reputation of Stellenbosch no harm at all, attesting to the quality of their terroir. - Neal Martin."
