2016 Chardonnay

Every year I have promised winemaker and proprietor Samantha O’Keefe to visit her property out in the middle of nowhere – otherwise known as Greyton. Well, this year I am finally able to meet Samantha at the property where we combine the tasting with Peter-Allan Finlayson of Crystallum and John Seccombe of Thorne & Daughters. I must say, it is impressive what Samantha has achieved. Emigrating from her native California with her husband and young children, her relationship did not survive the transfer, but she doubled down and constructed the home, built the winery, planted vineyards where nobody had ventured before, brought up the kids and damn well made one of South Africa’s finest wines. I visit her new winery, built against a stunning mountainous backdrop, a very functional “box-like” building that foregoes aesthetics for a facility that gives her plenty of space in which to work. The results can be tasted in the wine. The latest releases are exemplary, especially the Estate Reserve Chardonnay that is, dare I say, almost Corton-Charlemagne-like in style, a fabulous Syrah from both Elgin and Greyton fruit and a spine-tingling 2017 Estate Reserve Syrah that exudes potential. Is there nothing Samantha cannot do?