Carneros, Napa

A little 2018 experiment with no sulphur for the barnstormingly excellent Kahn vineyard Syrah. The result is excellent. Singingly fresh with depth and body and length to go and go and go. This wine is a text-book example of great winemaking presenting very very classically and with a brilliant chance to age.

This wine hails from the organically certified Kahn Vineyard, which Keep farm themselves. Picked at 23.5 Brix, with 50% whole cluster, fermented half in rolling neutral oak puncheons and half in open top fermenters. Aged for 18 months in neutral oak barrels.

British born Jack Roberts met Johanna Jensen on his first day arriving in Napa. 10 years later, happily married; they are producing wine together under the Keep Wines brand. The image on the label shows Beverstone Castle, an 11th century Norman stronghold in Gloucestershire. It was this historic keep where the owners of past centuries stored their most precious possessions, and their wines. Jack and JJ are dedicated to creating wines influenced by the old world with minimal manipulation and great potential ageing. Jack worked for many years as Steve Matthiasson’s assistant winemaker. He follows in Steve’s steps with his dedication to sustainable, regenerative farming and low intervention winemaking.