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Keermont Syrah "Topside" 2017 750ml

size
750ml
country
South Africa
appellation
Stellenbosch
WA
94
VM
94
JS
91
WE
90
WS
90
Additional vintages
2017 2016
WA
94
Rated 94 by Wine Advocate
More floral than the Steepside Syrah, the 2017 Topside Syrah offers an herbal left with red and purple flowers, lavender and a delightful mineral essence with graphite. Full-bodied on the palate, the wine continues to evolve over the complex and elongated finish showing subtle flavors of red and black peppercorn with notes of black plum skin and dark cherries. This will show better in time—I recommend giving it one more year in the bottle, but it will come around and remain a powerhouse for the next 10 to 12 years. Just over 2,500 bottles were produced after the wine aged for just under two years in French oak barrels. Bravo, I'm going back for another sip! ... More details
Image of bottle
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Keermont Syrah "Topside" 2017 750ml

SKU 962118
Qualifies for 12 Ship Free
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$47.94
/750ml bottle
Quantity
* This item is available for online ordering only. It can be picked up or shipped from our location within 4-6 business days. ?
Professional Ratings
WA
94
VM
94
JS
91
WE
90
WS
90
WA
94
Rated 94 by Wine Advocate
More floral than the Steepside Syrah, the 2017 Topside Syrah offers an herbal left with red and purple flowers, lavender and a delightful mineral essence with graphite. Full-bodied on the palate, the wine continues to evolve over the complex and elongated finish showing subtle flavors of red and black peppercorn with notes of black plum skin and dark cherries. This will show better in time—I recommend giving it one more year in the bottle, but it will come around and remain a powerhouse for the next 10 to 12 years. Just over 2,500 bottles were produced after the wine aged for just under two years in French oak barrels. Bravo, I'm going back for another sip!
VM
94
Rated 94 by Vinous Media
The 2017 Syrah Single Vineyard Series Topside is slightly brighter and more vivid on the nose compared to the Steepside with red cherries, crushed strawberry and just a light dab of dark chocolate. The oak is neatly integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening, very well balanced with a judicious touch of white pepper that becomes more prominent on the finish.
JS
91
Rated 91 by James Suckling
Aromas of red cherry, wet stone and crushed thyme. Medium-bodied with silky, slightly tight tannins. Subtle and nuanced, with nice transparency and clarity. Crunchy and lingering. Drink now.
WE
90
Rated 90 by Wine Enthusiast
Bright flavors of ripe fruit and spices are matched by lively acidity in this balanced wine. Cranberry, dried cherry, prune and chocolate meet on the palate and continue to shine through the medium, slightly warm finish.
WS
90
Rated 90 by Wine Spectator
A sleek, medium- to full-bodied red, with dark chocolate and candied orange peel accenting macerated black cherry and raspberry fruit. Shows sinewy tannins as well as lively acidity that drives the finish, where accents of dried herbs and smoke join the expressive fruit. Drink now through 2025. 40 cases imported.
Winery
• 100% Syrah. • Planted in 2006 West facing slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain, 350 MASL. • Sandstone and granite, weathered from the peaks above with a little Malmsbury shale. • Hand harvested in small batches. • Each parcel is fermented separately with indigenous yeast in open top fermenters. • Aged 20 months in seasoned French oak barriques. • Bottling is carried out by hand with no filtration.
Product Details
size
750ml
country
South Africa
appellation
Stellenbosch
Additional vintages
2017 2016
Overview
The 2017 Syrah Single Vineyard Series Topside is slightly brighter and more vivid on the nose compared to the Steepside with red cherries, crushed strawberry and just a light dab of dark chocolate. The oak is neatly integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening, very well balanced with a judicious touch of white pepper that becomes more prominent on the finish.
green grapes

Varietal: Syrah

There are few red wine grape varietals in the world quite as versatile as that of the Shiraz/Syrah vine. These powerful darkly colored grapes are responsible for several wildly popular wines, and are used in the production of still, fortified and sparkling wines, all which carry its magnificent strong flavors very well indeed. This grape varietal is a robust one, easily adaptable to several different climates and terroirs, and yet has a strong ability to express the conditions it is grown in when it ferments and is drank. Most typically, Shiraz/Syrah wines are known for spicy flavors with a big fruity punch, and the fact that they can demonstrate the decisions made by the winemakers in their secondary flavors very clearly.
barrel

Region: Coastal Region

South Africa is a fascinating country for wine, and the coastal regions at the very tip of the African continent are widely regarded as being one of the finest wine regions in the world. It isn't difficult to understand why the early European settlers in the 17th century saw such potential for viticulture in the area; the heat is fantastic, the summer days wonderfully long, the soil rich in minerals, and the strong winds coming from the ocean provide much needed coolness in which the grapes could ripen slowly and fully. Over time, South Africa's coastal regions became covered in strong, healthy vineyards, and today, the wine industry of the region is booming. The past few decades have seen wineries experimenting with a wide range of grape varietals, and also producing fortified wines and sparkling wines of great character alongside their classic varieties.
fields

Country: South Africa

Situated on the very tip of the African continent, South Africa has proved itself over three centuries to be an ideal location for producing a wide range of wines. Benefiting from something not dissimilar to a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers complemented by both Atlantic and Indian Ocean winds, the grapes which grow on the valleys, mountainsides and plains of this fascinating country can ripen to their fullest capacity, producing wines packed full of fruity flavors and an array of interesting and enticing aromas. As a former colony, South Africa has long since been home to a range of different nationalities, who each brought something of their wine culture with them. As such, many European grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and others have been given time to flourish in South Africa, allowing the country to develop a diverse group of wine types which are proving increasingly popular around the world.
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Long-term Pre-Arrival
750ml - 1 Bottle
Bottle: $61.48
• 100% Syrah. • Planted in 2006 West facing slopes of the Stellenbosch Mountain, 350 MASL. • Sandstone and...
More Details
Winery Keermont
green grapes

Varietal: Syrah

There are few red wine grape varietals in the world quite as versatile as that of the Shiraz/Syrah vine. These powerful darkly colored grapes are responsible for several wildly popular wines, and are used in the production of still, fortified and sparkling wines, all which carry its magnificent strong flavors very well indeed. This grape varietal is a robust one, easily adaptable to several different climates and terroirs, and yet has a strong ability to express the conditions it is grown in when it ferments and is drank. Most typically, Shiraz/Syrah wines are known for spicy flavors with a big fruity punch, and the fact that they can demonstrate the decisions made by the winemakers in their secondary flavors very clearly.
barrel

Region: Coastal Region

South Africa is a fascinating country for wine, and the coastal regions at the very tip of the African continent are widely regarded as being one of the finest wine regions in the world. It isn't difficult to understand why the early European settlers in the 17th century saw such potential for viticulture in the area; the heat is fantastic, the summer days wonderfully long, the soil rich in minerals, and the strong winds coming from the ocean provide much needed coolness in which the grapes could ripen slowly and fully. Over time, South Africa's coastal regions became covered in strong, healthy vineyards, and today, the wine industry of the region is booming. The past few decades have seen wineries experimenting with a wide range of grape varietals, and also producing fortified wines and sparkling wines of great character alongside their classic varieties.
fields

Country: South Africa

Situated on the very tip of the African continent, South Africa has proved itself over three centuries to be an ideal location for producing a wide range of wines. Benefiting from something not dissimilar to a Mediterranean climate, with long, hot summers complemented by both Atlantic and Indian Ocean winds, the grapes which grow on the valleys, mountainsides and plains of this fascinating country can ripen to their fullest capacity, producing wines packed full of fruity flavors and an array of interesting and enticing aromas. As a former colony, South Africa has long since been home to a range of different nationalities, who each brought something of their wine culture with them. As such, many European grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and others have been given time to flourish in South Africa, allowing the country to develop a diverse group of wine types which are proving increasingly popular around the world.