Lismore Estate Vineyards

Berkeley educated Samantha O’Keefe left her native California and an executive TV job, in search of a simpler life. She settled into her own sliver of paradise in the form of a 600 acre former dairy farm in Greyton, South Africa. The estate is at 300 meters elevation and tucked into the foothills of the dramatic Riviersonderend mountain range. She shares her property with a troop of baboons and a leopard.

 

The 30 acres of vineyards are planted in a terroir of decomposed shale and clay with Syrah, Viognier, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet franc. She is the only producer in the cool climate region, Greyton in the Overberg. The combination of elevation and climate make for an extended ripening period for her grapes. All of the wines are barrel fermented in neural oak, without Malo.

 

2006 was her inaugural vintage. In 2011 Neil Martin of the Wine Advocate discovered her wines at a tasting in London and wrote. ”Since her maiden vintage in 2006, along with her two sons, this estate has quietly gone about creating a cult following. Personally, I thought Lismore’s wines were top quality: crisp and focused, fresh as a spring morning with impressive complexity and style”.

 

I came away from this estate impressed with what the lovely Ms O’Keffe has been able to accomplish. She has demonstrated tremendous courage, raising her two sons on her own in an exotic land. She is a pioneer in a region with no peers. Her wines are precise, elegant, and delicious. Vision Wine Brands is proud to introduce Samantha and her wines to our portfolio.

Viognier - Age of Grace

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.

This expressive viognier, grown on rose-quartz soil, seduces you with the beautiful perfume of honeysuckle and orange blossom and a textured palate of apricot, kiwi and pineapple.  A sensual and exotic experience.  Barrel fermented and aged.  Enjoy it now or allow it to gain complexity with further cellaring.

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Sauvignon Blanc

As with all Lismore wines, balance is the key. The bracing acidity that is customary in new world Sauvignons has been brought into balance with a carefully chosen pick date and the barrel and egg fermentation and maturation. A full bodied, balanced wine was the goal.

Barrel fermentation and extended lees contact contribute to this full bodied, elegant and well balanced wine. Floral notes of passion flower and fynbos, granadilla, guava, gooseberry and pear on the palate along with an underlying minerality which gives this unique terroir driven wine its signature.

Wine Made in the Soil
The grapes come from 50% Lismore’s Greyton vineyards which are planted on East/Southeast facing slopes at 320 meters in the foothills of the Sonderend Mountain Range. The soils are deep decomposed shale. The other 50% comes from a vineyard in Stanford which overlooks Walker Bay on sandstone soils.

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Chardonnay

This very special Chardonnay was made in the style of a traditional Burgundian Chablis. It shows intense citrus and soft fruit layered with brioche, honey and walnut carried by a distinct minerality and crisp acidity with a lingering citrus finish.

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"From shale soils over clay with no new barrel and 15-20% malolactic, the 2013 Chardonnay has a nose that positively strides out of the glass with pineapple, guava and brioche aromas that hold nothing back. The palate is well balanced with touches of stem ginger and orange zest, demonstrating very good depth with a structured, almost terse finish that will need 3-4 years to mellow. Very good potential here and yet another wonderful Chardonnay from Samantha O'Keefe." ~ 91+, Wine Advocate November 2015

 

"Very pale yellow. Smoky, slightly herbaceous aromas of grapefruit peel, clove and honey. Rich, spicy and broad on the palate, conveying noteworthy depth and energy to the flavors of peach, brown spices and salty minerals. Finishes with impressive breadth and dusty persistence. A dense but brisk cool-climate style of Chardonnay with a light touch. Greyton is located in the Southern Cape region, northeast of Hermanus and inland." ~ 91, Vinous July 2015

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Syrah

Cassis, blackberry and cherry. White pepper, ground herbs and the strong floral perfume of crushed violets. Light and elegant, but structured with fresh acidity.

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Viognier Reserve

The Lismore Estate Reserve Viognier has always stood out as something special. The expression is dried apricot and fresh ginger with hints of honeysuckle through to a concentrated palate with fresh, clean acidity which supports the extravagance of the palate.

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