Syrah 2020 – Lismore

The grapes to produce Syrah Lismore were picked at optimal ripeness. 40% were fermented in whole bunches in large 5,000 litre vats with gentle pump overs twice per day. The process allowed for a long extraction period which lends to the fruit expression and structure of this Syrah Lismore . The free run wine was drained off and the fermented grapes were then pressed in a traditional wooden basket press. The wine was racked into 225, 300 and 500 litre barrels where malolactic fermentation took place and the wine was aged for 12 months. 15% new French oak was used.

The Syrah is made from 50% Greyton fruit planted in heavy schist (decomposed shale) soils with no irrigation; and 50% Elgin fruit grown in sandstone and shales soils. Two of the coolest climates in South Africa with extreme diurnal temperature shifts which promote complexity, depth and concentration and presents a Syrah that has a very distinct sense of place.

In Lismore Estate Vineyards the Californian Samantha O’Keefe has found paradise and the perfect terroir. Hidden at the foot of a spectacular mountain range in the lower part of Africa, Lismore Estate Vineyards was born next to its nascent family. A passionate vision, combined with vines planted at 300 meters, cooled by winter snow and fed by the African summer sun, produces classic wines, with a fresh climate, rich, complex and handcrafted.