Lismore Age of Grace Viognier 2018

Lismore Estate Syrah is made from 100 percent Syrah.

A careful selection of the best of the vintage that exemplifies the extraordinary terroir of Lismore.

An exotic experience which shifts your mind to another place. Cassis, brambles and succulent cherry. White pepper, classic garrigue and the strong floral perfume of crushed violets. Light and elegant, but structured with a fresh acidity. To experience the best this wine has to offer, decanting is suggested.

The grapes were fermented 40% whole bunch in a 5000 litre wooden fermenter with gentle pigeage throughout. The process allowed for a long extraction period which lends to the fruit expression of this wine. The wine was left for a 30 day extended maceration on the skins and then pressed in a traditional baskets press. Matured in 500 litre barrels for 10 months (35% new). Time in the bottle will allow integration, the deepening of layers and full expression of the fruit.

Review:

"This is the best release yet from Lismore, superior even to the impressive 2017. Made from blocks that are now 13 years' old, this is wonderfully, enticingly floral, showcasing all that is best about Syrah: aromatic spices, layered cherry and strawberry fruit, bright acidity, some tannic backbone, subtle whole bunch notes and a long finish. The oak is on point, the alcohol daringly restrained. 2020-30 Greyton (13.2%)"

- Tim Atkin (South Africa 2019 Special Report), 97 pts

"The 2018 Estate Reserve Syrah contains 50% whole-bunch fruit and is aged in 500- and 700-liter barrels, 30% new. It has an extremely pure, slightly floral bouquet of bright blueberry and black currant fruit infused with scents of crushed iris petals and violets, almost Burgundian in style. The palate is extremely well balanced with perfectly pitched acidity and filigreed tannins. There is an unerring sense of weightlessness about this Syrah, which is one of the most precise Lismore reds I have encountered over several years of tasting. Absolutely stunning. - Neal Martin"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2019), 97 pts

This a Greyton WO.

Balance is the key to this wine. Viognier is an aromatic and generous varietal, it benefits from barrel maturation and lees contact with a fuller mouth feel and increased texture. This combined with the firm acid backbone and intense fruit will allow this wine to integrate beautifully and gain further complexity over the next 3-5 years.

Rich, lush and decadent. Viognier is a gorgeous variety. Honeysuckle, peaches and dried apricot with a lingering citrus finish. A clean fresh acidity supports the extravagance of the nose and the palate.

Viognier, a traditional Rhone variety is perfectly suited to Lismore’s cool-climate terrior. The vineyard block is on decomposed shale and one of the healthiest and well balanced on the farm. The entire team looks forward to the Viognier harvest and the beautiful amber tinged berries.

The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and whole bunch pressed, slowly extracting the juice at a rate of 500ltrs per ton. The juice was settled for 48 hours and was racked into burgundian barriques (1st fill) for fermentation and maturation. The wine was left on the lees with regular “batonnage” for 11 months.

 Lighter styles are often paired with curries and the like. This Viognier is different. We recommend medium bodied meals that are intense and complex. For example:

- Sesame encrusted tuna marinated in a blend of orange, lemon and lime juice spiced with sesame oil and balsamic vinegar – seared on a wood fired grill and served with griddled vegetables, or
- Free range duck breast smoked with Darjeeling tea and coriander leaves. Set on a cinnamon poached pear glazed with a gooseberry jus.
In both of these dishes, the fruit and floral aspects of the wine are complimented by the exotic and aromatic elements in the dish which are also highlighted by the spiciness from the oak fermentation; the fresh acidity freshens the palate, and yet the Lismore Viognier has the body to hold up against the weight of the duck or the tuna. It is also gorgeous with a well laid cheese platter.

Review:

"One of two Lismore estate Viogniers reviewed in my 2019 report, this comes from a 0.3-hectare block that was planted 13 years ago. Rich, complex and concentrated, it has pear and apricot fruit, a hint of nectarine and a patina of vanilla and cinnamon spice. 2019-23 Greyton (14%)" - Tim Atkin (South Africa 2019 Special Report), 94 pts

Lismore Estate Syrah is made from 100 percent Syrah.

A careful selection of the best of the vintage that exemplifies the extraordinary terroir of Lismore.

An exotic experience which shifts your mind to another place. Cassis, brambles and succulent cherry. White pepper, classic garrigue and the strong floral perfume of crushed violets. Light and elegant, but structured with a fresh acidity. To experience the best this wine has to offer, decanting is suggested.

The grapes were fermented 40% whole bunch in a 5000 litre wooden fermenter with gentle pigeage throughout. The process allowed for a long extraction period which lends to the fruit expression of this wine. The wine was left for a 30 day extended maceration on the skins and then pressed in a traditional baskets press. Matured in 500 litre barrels for 10 months (35% new). Time in the bottle will allow integration, the deepening of layers and full expression of the fruit.

Review:

"The 2017 Estate Reserve Syrah comes entirely from Greyton, 40% whole cluster and aged in 500-liter barrels with 40% new oak. It has a very refined, perfumed bouquet of red cherries, crushed strawberry, broom, iris and a touch of potpourri. The palate is very well balanced, offering fine tannin on the entry, good weight in the mouth and blackberry, blueberry, clove, star anise and light fennel notes toward the finish. There is very good length here, but it needs another year or two in bottle to fully coalesce. Great potential. - Neal Martin"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (August 2018), 93+ pts

Upon smelling the 2017 Estate Reserve Syrah, my first thought was "Wow, this reminds me of a young Côte-Rôtie." The nose of this wine has a glossy polish to it, with black fruit that expresses power and complexity while remaining pristine and elegant. After the impressive fruit aromas, the soft herbal and lavender tones flutter in, bringing with them soft oak tones and a nuance of spice rack. The palate has good mineral tension with the depth and breadth of expression only found in world-class Syrah. The finish is long with grippy tannins and begs me to take another sip. Samantha O'Keefe is clearly doing things right. The Lismore Estate wines are highly collectible and show amazing quality. - Anthony Mueller" - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #245, October 2019), 93 pts

Babylons Peak Viognier-Roussanne is made from 60/40 blend of Viognier and Roussanne 

Babylon's Peak winery, situated on the highest weathered granite slopes of the Paardeberg Mountain, is privately owned by the Basson family who has passed down the tradition, passion and art of winemaking over four generations. Predominantly low-yield dryland bushvines are selected to produce these excellent wines with distinctive character.

Complex flavors of flowers, peach, dried pear and apricot with a long, smooth finish on the palate.

Review:

"This 60/40 blend of Viognier and Roussanne offers a perfume of white flowers and a finely focused palate of spice and white stone fruit with just a touch of minerals and white pepper. At the time of tasting, this wine had just been bottled and was for that reasons a bit closed; the 2017 vintage we also tried was richer, more expressive and had a lovely, slippery lanolin mouth feel. - Don Winkler" - i-winereview.com (The Wines of Babylon’s Peak in South Africa’s Swartland, September 30th 2019), 90 pts

The Siegel Special Reserve Viognier has a pale yellow color with green tones. The nose is quite intense with superb notes of white peach, grapefruit and floral expression. On the palate, the wine is balanced, persistent and it has an excellent acidity.

The Siegel Special Reserve Viognier is a blend of Viognier aged in French Oak barrels for 3 months and Viognier aged on the lees in stainless steel tanks. The wine didn't go through a Malolactic fermentation in order to keep it lively and fresh.

It was bottled right after a slight filtration.

The Siegel Special Reserve Viognier goes well with thai food or fish cooked in sauce.

Review:

"Brimming with peach and floral aromas, this is is ripe enough with crisp acidity for this grape variety. Good length, too. This should be good for at least a couple of years. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - James Suckling (April 2019), 91 pts

Lismore Chardonnay made from 100 percent Chardonnay.

Intense citrus and soft fruit layered with honey and vanilla carried by a distinct minerality and crisp acidity with a lingering citrus finish.

Fermented and aged in 225-300 liter older French barrels with regular batonnage. 10 % Malolactic Fermentation. Residual Sugar: 2.41

Delightful with warm curries which lift the aromatics or a traditional pairing of smoked salmon highlighting the fresh acidity.

Review:

"The 2017 Chardonnay is matured on the lees for 11 months in 300-liter barrels. It is well defined and quite Burgundian on the nose – think fine Chassagne-Montrachet. The well-balanced palate is linear and focused, offering flavors of citrus lemon, orange pith and quince. The taut finish suggests that it will benefit from a couple of years in bottle, if you can resist its nascent charm. Superb. - Neal Martin" - Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2019), 93 pts