Keermont Vineyards Steepside Syrah 2015

Keermont sits in the Blaauwklippen valley in Stellenbosch, in South Africa's Coastal Region, ringed by the Helderberg and Stellenbosch mountains. The Steepside Syrah comes from steep, well-drained slopes whose poor, stony soils limit vigour and concentrate the fruit. Stellenbosch has a warm Mediterranean climate cooled by ocean breezes, which extends ripening and preserves acidity and pepper. The wine spends 20 months in French oak barrels, which softens the tannins, adds fine grain and gentle spice, and lets slow oxygen exchange build depth and a savoury edge. The colour is a deep, dark red. The nose shows blackberry, blackcurrant and plum skin, with black pepper and a smoky, mineral note from the site. The palate is dry and concentrated, with firm but ripe tannins, a mineral core and a long, peppery finish. At 14.5 per cent it has weight without heat. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It is built for red meat, from grilled steak to slow-braised lamb.