Keet First Verse 2022
By Christian Eedes, 17 June 2026
-
Share:
3
Chris Keet, the man who conceived the famed Cordoba Crescendo back in the 1990s, has made the Bordeaux-style red blend that is First Verse since 2009, only one wine allowing for the necessary focus to chase excellence, embracing the challenges of each vintage and learning to manage them better over time.
The newly released 2022 (R790) is again masterful. A blend of 36% Cabernet Franc, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 10% Malbec and 7% Petit Verdot, it was matured for 19 months in barrel, 15% new. The nose shows red and black berries, rose, tobacco, herbs, vanilla, pencil shavings and oak spice. The palate is full-bodied but never cumbersome, structured and self-possessed. Succulent fruit is matched by vibrant acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins, the finish long and dry without a hint of astringency. A wine of impeccable balance. Alc: 14.5%.
CE’s rating: 96 | Classic
Check out our South African wine ratings database.
-
Share:
Vernon | 17 June 2026
Oh the plight of the wine critic, forever condemned to search for that perfect adjective. I fear “cumbersome” ain’t it and as for a “self-possessed” wine, I haven’t the faintest idea what that is.
Christian Eedes | 17 June 2026
Hi Vernon, Thanks for engaging and for your sympathy with my predicament. “Cumbersome” is intended to convey a wine that is opulent, heavily extracted and ultimately weighty to a fault. “Self-possessed”, meanwhile, is an instance of personification, which I generally try to avoid when it comes to wine descriptors. Here, though, I was trying to capture the wine’s composure, the winemaking, in turn, extremely accurate.
Vernon | 17 June 2026
Hi Christian,
Thanks both for your courtesy and your clarification.
Much appreciated.