It is Father’s Day on the 19th of June 2022 and Ken Forrester is the place for you to find the perfect gift to show appreciation and thanks to those fathers and father figures in your life.
The estate is located in Stellenbosch, with vineyards that capture the world-famous terroir including the unique Helderberg. Ken Forrester is known as “Mr Chenin” for his commitment to furthering the South African Chenin Blanc locally and abroad. He has curated a special collection of Chenins along with new-world representations of old-world Rhône red blends. The pinnacle of the Ken Forrester wines is the Icon range which consists of the famous FMC, the Gypsy and T Noble Late Harvest.
The FMC is a full-bodied Chenin made from carefully selected fruit from mostly old bush vines. The vinification is carefully facilitated with French oak (50% new) and allowed a lengthy 12 months barrel ageing sur lie. The result is a showstopper wine that is a vibrant golden straw colour, with a rich and forward nose and palate with apricots, vanilla and honey.
The Gypsy is a red Rhône blend of Grenache (65%) and Syrah (35%), hand-harvested with only the ripest fruit selected. The fruit was cold-soaked prior to fermentation the start of extraction of colour and aromatics, and then barrel fermented and matured in French oak for 12 months. Selection is done and the highest quality wines are used for the final blend which is put back into old barrels for a further 12 months of harmonising. The end wine is a concentration of colour and layers of deep red fruit, with a nose that is a bit wild with hints of bramble, dark spices, and vanilla.
The T Noble Late Harvest is made from 40+ years old vine Chenin Blanc, where the ripe berries have been transformed by Botrytis into liquid gold. The wine is pleasingly fresh with sumptuous peach and dried apricot that opens up to tropical melon and pineapple. The wine has a ripe sweetness, yet it is tangy, with sweet and sour zip the points to the balanced acid that carries the lingering finish.
This Father’s Day, celebrate your father and father figures by gifting any of these iconic wines to represent their unique and lasting impression on your life. Make this Father’s Day one to remember.