Ken Forrester Old Vines Reserve Chenin 2013

Ken Forrester is an iconic South African producer, known as a King of Chenin, and for a good reason.

With the reserve range, the winemakers are solely responsible for tending to the vines and hand-selecting the fruit, primarily sourced from the family estate in Stellenbosch, a mere 5 kilometers from the refreshing Atlantic Ocean and nestled in the protective shadow of the grand Helderberg mountain. The vineyards, situated in this vicinity, boast older vines that yield grapes with enhanced character and concentration. These wines are ideal companions for food, offering a harmonious balance of structure and elegance.

This is a benchmark Chenin Blanc from the ‘King of Chenin’ Ken Forrester.  The wine is crisp and fresh, an expression of Chenin Blanc at it’s best. The wine is barrel fermented which gives it a gorgeous texture, without making the wine oaky.

2013 vintage

The 2013 harvest season surpassed the expectations of the South African wine industry, delivering great wines, despite a late and sluggish start.

The wine undergoes fermentation in both barrels and tanks, remaining in contact with the lees (9 months in French oak, with 20% new oak) and further maturing on secondary lees to develop a rounded complexity.

Displaying aromas of melon and spicy baked apple. Its palate is beautifully layered, with mineral undertones complemented by the richness of honeycomb and caramel flavours derived from lees contact. It exemplifies a harmonious balance between the fruitiness and subtle oak/vanilla nuances, resulting in a complex yet soft flavour profile.

Food pairing suggestion: Crayfish curry.

Vintages are for illustration only.