Keermont Topside Syrah 2018

Learn More About This Wine

The Keermont Single VIneyard Series was created to highlight the superb quality and individual character of the wines produced from specific vineyard parcels on the farm. These parcels have been registered as Single Vineyards with South African Wine Industry Information & Systems NPC (SAWIS) and wines labelled as such may not contain grapes from any other vineyards. The production of each wine is therefore very limited. Keermont does not bottle these wines every year. 

The Topside Syrah vineyard is situated high up on the West Facing midslopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain range (Elevation 350m). It was planted in 2006 on rocky soils consisting of sandstone and granite, weathered from the peaks above with little Malmsbury shale. Vines are unirrigated, trellised and run with the contour in a North South direction. The elevation, soil and aspect all contribute to the spicy character and fine tannin structure of this wine. The views from the top of this vineyard west to False Bay and Table Mountain are simply breathtaking. 

Despite prevailing drought conditions, 2018 was a very good growing season on Keermont. They had a fairly cold winter although it was drier than usual. Spring arrived quite early and the warm weather ensured an even budburst. They had some good rain showers during the season which allowed for the vines to grow sufficiently. These factors led to the formation of a healthy crop which ripened evenly. There was a very notable diurnal temperature variation during this season (warm days and cool nights) which is responsible for good tannin, colour and flavour development. Harvest started at the beginning of February. 

All grapes used in producing this wine come from the Topside Syrah block (1.7 ha). Small parcels of grapes are specifically selected according to ripeness, harvested by hand and vinified separately. Fermentation is carried out by yeast which occurs naturally on the grape skins and in the winery. Red wines spend three to four weeks fermenting and macerating on the skins in small open top tanks with one or two gentle ‘punch-downs’ performed per day. This wine spent 20 months maturing in seasoned 225L and 500L French oak barrels before being bottled by hand on 5 December 2019. Only 2822 bottles and 50 magnums were produced. 

Dark plummy red in colour, the Topside 2018 is shy at first, but opens into a beautiful bouquet of black fruit with hints of ripe cherries, rose petal and white pepper. On the palate, the wine is tight and savoury with bold, grippy tannin structure. This anchors the powerful dark fruit with hints of herbs and pepper. The finish is long and focussed with juicy, succulent fruit notes and lingering tannin. 

Tim Atkin MW – South Africa Report 2023 – 97 points 

Syrah lovers could spend a long time discussing the relative merits of Alex Starey’s single parcel Syrahs. I have a very slight preference for Topside in 2018, partly because its cooler terroir on Stellenbosch Mountain was well suited to the drought conditions of the vintage. Restrained, focused and built to age in bottle, it has sage and oregano perfume, savoury tannins, refreshing acidity and minerality and flavours of plum, raspberry, red cherry and tobacco leaf.