Keermont new releases

By , 17 December 2020

Never a dull moment in farming – a recent fire on the Helderberg saw Keermont viticulturist and winemaker Alex Starey and family ready to evacuate their home at 03h00 in the morning before a change in wind direction prevented disaster.

Starey has been at this property since 2005, first bottling being 2007 and the portfolio of wines he produces is now really coming in to its own. Tasting notes and ratings for the new releases as follows:

Keermont Terrasse 2017
Price: R180

55% Chenin Blanc, 21% Sauvignon Blanc, 14% Chardonnay, 5% Viognier, 3% Marsanne and 2% Roussanne. A complex and compelling nose – a little flinty reduction before citrus, stone fruit, blackcurrant and an intriguing herbal note. The palate is tightly wound and yet not lean – dense fruit, a good line of acidity and a super-savoury finish.

CE’s rating: 95/100.  

Keermont Terrasse 2018
Price: Not yet released.

61% Chenin Blanc, 23% Chardonnay, 13% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Viognier. Naartjie, peach, a slight herbal note and spice on the nose while the palate is richer and broader than the previous vintage making for a wine that is more immediately accessible – very flavourful, all the same.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc 2018
Price: R410

Part of the Single Vineyard Series, grapes are from a 1971 vineyard. A complex nose with notes of hay, apple, peach, a hint of spice and wet wool. The palate is wonderfully deep but equally not short of freshness – with layers of flavour, this really resonates in the mouth and provides plenty of pleasure.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

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Keermont Merlot 2017
Price: R200

Includes 8% Cabernet Franc and 6% Malbec. Red and black berries plus a slight minty note on the nose. Rich and dense on the palate, bright acidity providing verve, the tannins rather chewy.

CE’s rating: 89/100.

Keermont Syrah 2015
Price: R240

Includes 13% Mourvèdre. Approximately 10% whole-bunch fermented. Matured for 20 months in older oak. Expressive aromatics of black berries, lavender, fynbos, pepper and spice. The palate is full-bodied and flavourful – quite a hearty wine, the tannins already starting to resolve.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

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Keermont Steepside Syrah 2016
Price: R520

Part of the Single Vineyard Series, grapes from a north-facing vineyard on loamy soil. Red and black berries, white pepper and fresh herbs on the nose. The palate, meanwhile, is flavour-packed with dense fruit, bright acidity and fine tannins.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Keermont Topside Syrah 2016
Price: R520

Part of the Single Vineyard Series, grapes from a west-facing vineyard on granite soils. Aromatics of red berries, violets, fynbos and pepper. Juicy and fresh on the palate with fine tannins and a nicely dry finish.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

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Keermont Pondokrug Cabernet Franc 2016
Price: R410

Part of the Single Vineyard Series. Enticing aromatics including red cherry, cranberry, rose-like perfume, dried herbs and spice. The palate has lovely fruit purity with bright acidity and fine, powdery tannins. Balanced and complex, this is the most successful vintage to date.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

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Keermont Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Price: R260

86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and 3% Merlot. Classic aromatics of cassis, some leafiness and pencil shavings. The palate is full with firm tannins – a powerful, pleasantly rustic wine (alcohol is 15%).

CE’s rating: 91/100.

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Keermont Estate Reserve 2014
Price: R310

32% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot, 7% Malbec and 2% Syrah. The nose shows floral perfume before red and black berries plus attractive oak spice. The palate is relatively medium bodied (compared to some of the property’s other reds) with fresh acidity and fine tannins. Deliberately released late, this is in a nice place in terms of its development.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Keermont Fleurfontein 2019
Price: R240 per 375ml bottle

From vine-dried Sauvignon Blanc. Matured in French and Hungarian barrels for 18 months. An exotic nose with notes of citrus, granadilla, pineapple, honey and vanilla. The palate has a good core of fruit to go with snappy acidity before a nicely dry finish. Not overly sweet or heavy.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Check out our South African wine ratings database.

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