Tasting Notes: Cartology 2023 offers a complex and enticing aroma of ripe stone fruits, honey, and citrus zest, interlaced with subtle notes of herbs and a touch of flint. On the palate, it delivers a rich and layered experience, with flavors of white peach, ripe melon, and a hint of ginger. The wine is beautifully structured with a vibrant acidity, a creamy texture, and a long, mineral-driven finish.

Food Pairing: This versatile wine complements a variety of dishes, including grilled seafood, roasted chicken, and creamy pasta dishes. Its depth and balance also make it a great choice for pairing with sophisticated appetizers and charcuterie.

Style: Dry, with a refined and nuanced profile that balances fruit richness with mineral complexity.

Tasting Notes: “Elpidios” 2021 presents a captivating bouquet of dark berries, ripe plums, and a touch of spice, underscored by subtle earthy and herbal nuances. On the palate, it reveals a rich tapestry of flavors, including black cherry, licorice, and a hint of black pepper. The wine is characterized by its velvety texture, well-integrated tannins, and a lingering, nuanced finish with hints of graphite and mocha.

Food Pairing: This versatile red blend pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes, such as grilled lamb, roasted beef, and hearty stews. Its complexity and depth also make it an excellent match for aged cheeses and charcuterie.

Based on Chenin Blanc, with the remaining 53% made up of Semillon, Verdelho, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Colombard and Viognier, it’s a layered, mealy, waxy cuvée with subtle skin contact bitterness, racy acidity and pear, quince and lemongrass flavours.” – Tim Atkin MW

Tasting Notes: The 2022 Grenache Noir greets you with a fragrant bouquet of red berries, including raspberry and cherry, complemented by subtle floral and herbal notes. On the palate, it reveals a harmonious blend of juicy red fruit, delicate spice, and a touch of white pepper. The wine is beautifully structured with a silky texture, balanced acidity, and a long, graceful finish that echoes with hints of minerals and earth.

Food Pairing: This Grenache Noir pairs exceptionally well with a variety of dishes, such as roasted pork, grilled chicken, and Mediterranean cuisine. Its bright fruitiness and elegant profile also make it a delightful companion to charcuterie and soft cheeses.

Tasting Notes: The 2022 vintage reveals vibrant red fruit aromas of raspberry and cherry, complemented by hints of white pepper and a touch of spice. On the palate, expect a seamless blend of juicy red berries, fine-grained tannins, and a refreshing acidity that provides a lively, extended finish.

Food Pairing: This versatile Grenache Noir pairs beautifully with a range of dishes, including roasted chicken, grilled lamb, or a charcuterie platter.

Serving: Best enjoyed slightly chilled or at room temperature. Decanting for about an hour before serving will enhance its complex aromas and flavors.

Cellaring Potential: While delightful now, this magnum can age gracefully over the next 5-7 years, developing additional layers of complexity.

Tasting Notes: The 2020 vintage opens with an enticing bouquet of blackcurrant, blackberry, and ripe plum, layered with subtle notes of cedar, tobacco, and a hint of graphite. On the palate, it offers a rich and full-bodied profile, with flavors of dark fruit, velvety tannins, and well-integrated oak. The wine’s firm structure and balanced acidity lead to a long, persistent finish.Food Pairing: This Cabernet Sauvignon pairs excellently with hearty dishes such as grilled steaks, lamb chops, or a rich beef stew. It also complements aged cheeses and charcuterie. Serving: For optimal enjoyment, serve at room temperature. Decanting for 1-2 hours before serving will enhance its complex aromas and flavors.

Tasting Notes: The Topside Syrah 2020 reveals a complex aromatic profile with layers of dark berries, black olive, and a touch of smoked meat. On the palate, it delivers a rich tapestry of flavors, including ripe blackberry, plum, and subtle hints of black pepper and spices. The wine boasts a full body, with well-structured tannins and a lingering, savory finish that showcases its depth and elegance.

Food Pairing: This Syrah is a perfect match for hearty and flavorful dishes such as slow-braised beef, grilled lamb, or a rich mushroom risotto. It also pairs well with aged cheeses and charcuterie.

Tasting Notes: The 2017 Steepside Syrah captivates with a bouquet of dark fruit aromas, including blackberry and black cherry, intertwined with notes of violet, licorice, and a hint of white pepper. On the palate, it offers a harmonious blend of ripe dark fruits, fine-grained tannins, and subtle earthy undertones. The wine's elegant structure and balanced acidity lead to a refined, lingering finish with a touch of minerality.

Food Pairing: This Syrah pairs beautifully with a variety of robust dishes, such as grilled lamb, venison, or beef dishes with a peppercorn sauce. It also complements rich vegetable dishes and mature cheeses.

Tasting Notes: The 2017 Pondokrug Cabernet Franc showcases a beautifully aromatic profile with notes of red currant, raspberry, and black cherry, intertwined with hints of fresh herbs, graphite, and a touch of cedar. On the palate, it reveals a medium-bodied structure with fine tannins and balanced acidity, delivering flavors of juicy red fruits, subtle spice, and a delicate minerality. The finish is long and refined, with a lingering hint of fresh herbs and earthy undertones.

Food Pairing: This versatile wine pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes, including roasted poultry, grilled pork, and vegetable-based dishes. It also complements lighter pasta dishes and soft cheeses.

Serving: Serve at room temperature. Decanting for 30 minutes to an hour before serving will enhance the wine's complex aromas and flavors, making for a more expressive tasting experience.

We follow a traditional winemaking philosophy which means indigenous yeast fermentation, no adjustment to acid or alcohol, maturation in seasoned oak barrels and bottling by hand with little or no filtration. This wine spent 19 months maturing in French oak barrels before being bottled on 28 October 2021. A total of 11720 bottles and 101 magnums were produced.

TASTING NOTE

The Keermont Merlot 2020 has a vibrant venetian red colour. Enticing spicy red fruit on the nose with hints of cinnamon, dried herbs, and Christmas pudding. Classical soft, fruitful palate with dark plums, cherries delicate anise, and dried orange notes. Fine dusty tannins hold the wine into a long savoury finish. Best drinking: 2023-2035.

VINTAGE REPORT

Winter temperatures leading up to the 2020 harvest were moderate, with below average rainfall. Fortunately, we had a wet Spring which prompted the vines to grow strong and develop a decent size crop. Early season was marked by erratic temperatures with several heat spikes. These factors made farming quite tough with increased pressure from disease and insects. The vineyard team worked hard to prepare a healthy crop.

Mid-Summer temperatures were moderate, although we did experience a short heat wave in January. This was followed by a gale-force South-East wind which hammered the vineyards. This resulted in the grapes ripening quickly. Although we started picking at a normal time, by 10 March we had picked all the grapes for our wines.

Tasting Notes: The Amphitheatre 2016 offers an enticing bouquet of dark fruit aromas, including blackberry, plum, and cassis, complemented by subtle notes of cocoa, tobacco, and a hint of spice. On the palate, it presents a full-bodied structure with well-integrated tannins and a balanced acidity. The rich flavors of dark berries are enhanced by layers of chocolate, cedar, and a touch of dried herbs, leading to a long, smooth finish with a touch of minerality.

Food Pairing: This versatile blend pairs excellently with a range of dishes, such as grilled meats, roasted vegetables, and hearty stews. It also complements a selection of cheeses, making it a great choice for a charcuterie board.

Serving: Serve at room temperature. Decanting the wine for about an hour before serving will help to fully open up its complex aromas and flavors, providing a more rewarding tasting experience.

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. We add a small percentage of Mourvedre to this to bring some extra tannin structure and complexity.Vinification: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 on 27 November 2019. We produced 13074 bottles and 98 magnums.

Keermont Syrah 2018 has a bright blood red colour with a lighter hue. The bouquet is enticing with strawberries and other red fruit and notes of sandal wood, tea leaf, cloves, and orange rind. The wine has a gentle entry onto the palate. It exudes vibrant flavours of cherry and raspberry, complimented by savoury spice, and a vanilla note. A soft, but tight tannin structure and good natural acidity keep the flavours focused into a tidy succulent finish. Drink 2023-2033.

The base is Chenin blanc from three distinctive vineyards – our old vine Riverside block planted in 1971, the dryland bush vine Bobbejaan Wingerd (Baboon Vineyard), and the trellised Low Road vineyard. The other varieties add complexity and create a more complete wine. Chardonnay gives a little more weight on the palate, Sauvignon blanc from our dryland vineyard ‘Uitkyk’ (planted in 1988) brings fresh acidity, and the drops of Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier give this vintage a slight spicy, aromatic lift.

Tasting Notes: The 2022 Family Vineyards Pinot Noir opens with a captivating bouquet of vibrant red fruit aromas, including cherry, raspberry, and cranberry, accented by delicate floral notes and a hint of earthy undertones. On the palate, the wine is silky and refined, showcasing a harmonious balance of juicy red fruit flavors, fine tannins, and a subtle spice. The wine's bright acidity and well-integrated oak contribute to a long, elegant finish, marked by a whisper of minerality.

Food Pairing: This versatile Pinot Noir is an excellent match for a variety of dishes, including roast duck, grilled salmon, mushroom risotto, and lamb. Its nuanced flavors and smooth texture also make it a delightful companion to a selection of artisanal cheeses and charcuterie.

Serving: Best enjoyed slightly chilled, around 14-16°C (57-61°F). Decanting for about 30 minutes before serving can help to enhance the wine's aromatic profile and complexity.

Cellaring Potential: The Newton Johnson Family Vineyards Pinot Noir 2022 is delightful now but also possesses the potential to age gracefully over the next 5-7 years, developing further complexity and depth.