Alcohol: 13.5%
Grape(s): 86% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Malbec
Localization: Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Tasting Notes: Deep ruby red color. Ripe red fruit and liqueur cherry aromas are complimented by classic dusty herb and thatch notes. The palate is dense, but soft. The wine shows good weight with dusty savory fruit character. Chalky tannins and good natural acid help to maintain a fresh elegance and a long, succulent dry finish.
Food Pairing: Red meat, pasta and pizza.
Notes: Small batches 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 French oak barrels before being bottled by hand without filtration.
The Domain: In 2001, the Wraith family moved to the Western Cape from Gauteng and in 2003, bought two adjacent farms which today make up Keermont Vineyards.
A tight-knit team of 15 people works at Keermont, from tending the vines to packaging the bottles for final release; this team carries out all work to ensure that the same attention to detail is followed throughout the wines’ production.
Mark Wraith lives on the farm with his wife, Monica, and their four children. Mark plays an active role from strategic long-term planning to tending to the vines and taking care of guests in the tasting room.
Alex Starey oversees the vineyards and makes the estate’s wines. Employed at the start of the redevelopment of the farm in 2005, he enjoys the responsibility of ensuring that the vineyards deliver the highest quality fruit to create the best possible wines.
Linda Hartley looks after our bookkeeping and administration. Evelyn King takes care of logistics and Nicole Kilian is responsible for sales and marketing.
Dominic Jonsson is the farm supervisor and does a bit of everything from strategic planning and staff management right through to routine maintenance. He knows the farm better than anyone, having moved to it when the Wraiths bought it in 2003. He is also our resident snake catcher.
Over the past couple of years, Mark, Alex, and Dom have devoted a great deal of time not only to developing the new vineyards but also to designing the labels and packaging of the Keermont Brand, designing and constructing the winery, and developing the individual wines.
Shane De Vries is Alex’s, right-hand man. Shane grew up on a neighboring farm and has been at Keermont for over 15 years. He oversees all winery work and puts the finishing touches on each order.
The rest of the team – William, Ernest, Simon, Mandi, Asanda, Farieda, and Matt – pay attention to detail, from pruning the vines all the way through to hand labeling and polishing every bottle before it is put in the box.
We are very proud of the long-term relationship we have with our team.
