Old Vine Reserve 2008 shows exactly why Ken Forrester’s early commitment to old-vine Chenin changed South Africa’s wine landscape. After more than 15 years in bottle, this vintage has shed its youthful fruit and transformed into something savoury, honeyed and beautifully mature. Deep, textural and wonderfully complex, it’s proof that Chenin Blanc ages every bit as gracefully as the great whites of Europe.
Ken Forrester, The Producer
Ken Forrester has long believed that old vines carry stories: deeper roots, lower yields and hard-earned resilience. Long before “old vine” became a buzzword, Ken mapped out forgotten blocks of dry-farmed bush vines and revived them with meticulous care. His Old Vine Chenin range was born from this mission. The 2008 vintage is a snapshot of Ken’s early advocacy; when few were listening, but he was already convinced. Chenin was his calling, and old vines were the key.
About the 2008 Vintage
Time has softened this wine into an elegant tapestry of baked apple, preserved lemon, honeycomb, chamomile and toasted nuts. The palate is creamy yet defined, with lingering acidity and gentle spice. Notes of lanolin, warm stone, beeswax and dried apricot appear as it opens. The finish is long, savoury and quietly powerful: the mark of mature Chenin at its best.
Food Pairing Suggestion
Perfect with Moroccan chicken tagine, porcini risotto or roasted pumpkin with sage.
Did you know?
Many of the vines behind this wine were planted in the 1960s, some now well over 50 years old.
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