Now, time to take notice, because this, quite simply, is one of the best South African wines you will ever taste!
Lismore is run by entrepreneurial winemaker Sam O’Keefe, who arrived in SA from her native Californian with high-quality wine on her mind. She makes a small but perfectly formed portfolio of wines from her base in Greyton in the Western Cape, and we think that her Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc is one of her very best (watch out 'white bordeaux' you've got some major competition). This Viogner gives the great wines of Condrieu a true run for their money, it is wonderfully layered and complex with just the right amount of toasty oak. Sam has truly outdone herself with this beauty and we just adore it!
Expressive and elegant, it has all of the lovely aroma that you want from Viognier, peach, apriot, violet allied to bright balancing acidity and so much more. This a wine full of depth, with a creamy rich texture and bright, vibrant layers that linger on the palate.
The Details:
Grape: Viognier
Country: South Africa
Region: Greyton
Abv: 14%
Style: Full, rich, creamy, aromatic, nutty, lightly oaked, complex
The Producer:
Lismore Estate is a small winery that was started by an amazing lady named Samantha O’Keefe (“Sam”). Sam is Berkeley educated and originally from California, after years of working as a TV Executive she decided she wanted a ‘simpler life’. She moved to South Africa with her two sons and basically pioneered a new remote wine region in Greyton, tucked in the foothill of dramatic Riviersonderend mountain range. Sam went on to plant all the vines from scratch AND built her own home, this became her sliver of paradise and in a very short time her boutique winery (Lismore) started to get noticed, since her inaugural vintage in 2006 Sam’s wine have gained cult status. Sadly, her vineyards and home were destroyed by a wildfire fire in 2020 and Sam is now rebuilding Lismore from scratch, this is one fiercely determined woman whose wines are a true joy to experience.
