Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc 2015

By , 7 November 2016

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3

Stellenbosch property Keermont recently released new vintages of its single vineyard series, tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc 2014

Of a place.

Keermont Riverside Chenin Blanc 2015
Wine Cellar price: R320
From a vineyard planted in 1971. Fermented and matured for 12 months in French oak barrels, partially new. Subtle and elusive aromatics – hay and dried herbs before citrus and white peach. Pure fruit, bright acidity and a pithy finish. Nothing too obvious and beautifully balanced, this is a wine of particular elegance.

#WinemagRating: 94/100.

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Keermont Topside Syrah 2014
Wine Cellar price: R405
From a southwest facing vineyard. Fermented and matured for 20 months in older 500-litre French oak barrels. Red fruit, roses and a hint of oak. Medium bodied (despite an alcohol of 14.5%) – succulent fruit and very fine tannins. Really nicely observed.

#WinemagRating: 93/100.

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Keermont Steepside Syrah 2014
Wine Cellar price: R405
From a northwest facing vineyard. Fermented and matured for 20 months in older 225-litre French oak barrels. Black fruit, lavender, pepper and a slight malty quality. Rich and full with moderate acidity and firm tannins making for a very dry finish.

#WinemagRating: 92/100.

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Keermont Pondok Rug Cabernet Franc 2014
Wine Cellar price: R405
Fermented and matured for 20 months in older 225-litre French oak barrels. Red and black berries, violets plus a subtle but definite herbal note. Concentrated fruit with fresh acidity and firm but fine tannins, the finish long and dry. Well balanced  but perhaps a bit short on detail.

#WinemagRating: 90/100.

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Comments

3 comment(s)

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    Boris Peter | 7 November 2016

    We presented the Keermont Riverside Chenin 2015 in different tastings mid September and the wine was absolutely stunning with beautiful purity and freshness. In my opinion this is the best vintage so far. So, I was very surprised about the “low” Platter rating for the 2015 vintage.

    Christian | 7 November 2016

    Hi Tim, I would agree that the Chenin is a particularly restrained example of the variety but this is precisely why I like it. As for the single-vineyard Syrahs, these are smart but I think the standard-label 2013 with 13% Mourvedre and selling for R189 a bottle from the farm is the one to go for!

    Tim James | 7 November 2016

    I was rather disappointed when I tasted the Chenin 2015 for Platter 4 months ago – strangely it seemed not a patch on the stunning 2014. I hope it’s because it was in a closed-down phase then (or I was just wrong – though I checked the second bottle with a few other people who tried it blind and thought similarly). I’d be interested to know whether other people agree with Christian’s assessment of the wine now.

    On the other hand, I’m a touch more positive about the single-vineyard Keermont syrahs than Christian (especially as he;’s now giving out 95-s with more alacrity than was his wont!).

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