Stellenbosch, South Africa
A focus on Rhône instead of Bordeaux…nice
It was my fifth day in country touring South Africa, and my
second day dedicated to wine tasting, first in Constantia
and now Stellenbosch. In Constantia, I did a self-driving
tour as I went from vineyard to vineyard, and by the end of the day did not
feel like doing anymore driving, so when it came to Stellenbosch, I got smart
and hired a wine guide. For two main reasons, the guide would drive, a guide
could get me into more wineries, and I could learn more about the region by
discussing it with an expert. I hired Stephen Flesch owner of Gourmet Wine Tours of South Africa. I discovered Stephen after reading a
book on South African tourism in the wine section and saw that he had been
recommended in the book by Frommer’s. Therefore, for R 1,900.00 per person
for a build your own style tour, Stephen picked me up in Cape Town and we were
off to the next Stellenbosch winery tasting at Ken Forrester Winery.
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Wine
Dine and Play’s ratings for wine:
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96 – 100
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Extraordinary
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90 – 95
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Outstanding
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80 – 89
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above average
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70 – 79
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below average
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60 – 69
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poor/appalling/ “Cac”
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Review basics:
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Wine, Dine, & Play’s Rating
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84/100
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87/100 on Petit Pinotage 2010, 89 points on Petit Chenin Blanc 2010, &
90
points on Petit Cabernet Sauvignon /
Merlot 2012
93 points on the Gypsy 2007
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Wine Spectator
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88/100 Petit Chenin Blanc 2010
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3.0
to 3.5 of 5 points on multiple wines
4.0
to 4.5 on the reds
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Wines Produced
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Red: Heritage, Meritage, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Merlot, Pinot Noir, Pinotage, Grenache, Shiraz, Rhône Blend, Mourvedre, Cab/Merlot
Blend
White: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot
Blanc, Rose
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Grape Blends
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Red: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, & Cabernet Franc
White: Sauvignon blanc, Sémillon or Muscadelle du Bordelais
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Current Vintage for 2014
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Reds: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012
Whites: 2011, 2012, 2013
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Region Map
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Stellenbosch
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Regulatory
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ABV %
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13 to 15% depending on the wine
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Barrel Types
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French oak, 20% new
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Barrel Aging
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9 to 24 months
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South
African wine Quality Standards:
Unlike some European countries, South Africa does not have
any requirements for the process of making wines in a particular region—for
instance, allowing only certain trellising methods or varietals. However, there
are certain quality requirements. For a wine
to be labeled as a particular varietal or as coming from a particular region,
estate, or vineyard, it must also not display any “unacceptable quality
characteristics,” which means the wine may not be turbid, contain excess
sediment or crystals, have faulty/insufficient color, or display undesirable
flavor characteristics. Among the several characteristics listed as
unacceptable, a wine may not be overly tannic, thin or watery, or oxidized. For
a wine to be labeled as coming from a particular area, 100% of the grapes used
to make the wine must have been grown there, and producers may only label their
wines using officially-recognized geographic areas. In addition to designating a particular
geographic unit, region, district, or ward, a producer may also designate the
wine as coming from a particular estate or may label it as a “single vineyard
wine.” However, to do so the producer
must first register the area where the grapes were grown with the Wine and
Spirit Board. Single-vineyard wines must
have been made from a single varietal that is produced in the area registered
with the board, and the area registered may be no larger than 6 hectares. Estate wines must be made entirely—including
bottling—in the registered area where the grapes were grown. Also, if a particular varietal—or “cultivar”
as the law defines it—is listed on the bottle, at least 85% of the grapes used
in making the wine must have been of that type. This same 85% rule applies to
designating a particular vintage year.
Cases Produced:
Per Year:
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Petit Chenin Blanc 2013
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KF Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2011
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The Three Halves 2007
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The FMC 2011
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The Gypsy 2010
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Price chart:
$ - Under $50.00 USD
$$ - Over $50.00 USD
$$$ - Over $100.00 USD
$$$$ - Over $200.00 USD
$$$$$- Over $400.00 USD
Bottle prices:
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Wine Selction:
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Currency:
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Country:
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Price Chart :
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Petit Chenin Blanc 2013 (750 ml)
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R40.00
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ZAR
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$3.62
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USD
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$
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£2.17
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GBP
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£
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€2.64
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EUR
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€
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¥22.17
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CNY
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¥
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KF Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2011 (750 ml)
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R75.00
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ZAR
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$6.79
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USD
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$
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£4.08
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GBP
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£
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€4.96
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EUR
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€
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¥41.57
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CNY
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¥
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The Three Halves 2007 (750 ml)
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R195.00
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ZAR
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$17.67
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USD
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$
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£10.60
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GBP
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£
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€12.89
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EUR
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€
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¥108.07
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CNY
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¥¥¥
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The FMC 2011(750 ml)
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R325.00
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ZAR
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$29.44
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USD
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$
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£17.67
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GBP
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£
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€21.48
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EUR
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€
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¥180.12
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CNY
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¥¥¥
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The Gypsy 2010 (750 ml)
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R325.00
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ZAR
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$29.44
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USD
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$
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£17.67
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GBP
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£
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€21.48
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EUR
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€
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¥180.12
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CNY
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¥¥¥
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Visit these sites to
get up to date currency rates:
Alternatively, visit:
Cost of wine tasting in USD (p/p):
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8 wine tasting Flight:
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$3.00
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11 wine tasting flight:
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$5.00
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Scroll down below to the main review to read the tasting notes
From vineyards home page:
Situated on the slopes of the Helderberg Mountain, in the
heart of South Africa's most famous wine region Stellenbosch, our vineyards are
commonly referred to as the Home of Chenin Blanc and other premium
award-winning wines. Over the years, our range of top quality wines has
received massive national and international acclaim with literally hundreds of
awards and accolades over the last 20 years and are broadly available in
reputable restaurants and exported around the globe. Ken Forrester’s philosophy
has always been to create a range of handcrafted, individually made wines that
suitably complement a wide variety of food styles and provide excellent value.
Member of:
Main review:
Stephen Flesch of Gourmet Wine Tours of South Africa had picked me up in Cape Town, and we
continued our wine tour stopping first at Meerlust Winery, and now Ken Forrester. We sat in a patio area with tables and umbrellas
to protect us from the sun. It was a muggy hot day, and you could defiantly
tell the difference in temperatures from Cape Town to Stellenbosch. I enjoyed five
varieties from three tasting ranges, the petit, the Ken Forrester Range of
wines, and the Icon Range, starting the Petit Chenin Blanc with lots of vibrant
fresh fruit flavors, but no bight unfortunately. The second tasting was the
Reserve Chenin Blanc, which had a little more structure and body, but really,
to me I could not tell much difference in the two.
The next three tastings were of the Icon Range, which by far
were the best wines I tasted from Ken Forrester Vineyard that day, beginning
with a Rhône style blend called The Three Halves, a very classical style blend
with great up front fruit flavors, that lingered for several minutes on the
palate, very nice. The next tasting was a white called the FMC, a very deep and
rich flavored Chenin Blanc. Unlike the first two tasting, this wine impressed
me, and was a toss-up for my favorite tasting of the day with The Three Halves.
There was a good amount of honey on this wine, with for me a hint or nectarine and
avocado mixed with the apricot flavor. This is a perfect cheese platter wine or
would go good with Mexican Food, not Tex-Mex, but the real deal, and can handle
the spice. The Gypsy, which was the final tasting of the day, was a Grenache
and Shiraz blend. From earlier vineyard tastings and wine paired with tasting
menus at different Cape Town Restaurants such as Aubergine,
and The Test Kitchen, I could see that Shiraz was the main grape of South Africa
besides the iconic Meritage style Bordeaux blends. However, Ken Forrester was
one of the few vineyards I tasted that focused on the Rhône blends of France
instead of Bordeaux, which was a bonus for me since I prefer Rhône to Bordeaux and
Burgundy.
Now because I was part of a tour, the tastings were included
in the overall price for each winery that day. As an American visiting South
Africa, the tastings in both Constantia and Stellenbosch were an experience
within themselves, much different to the tastings in Napa and Sonoma,
California. Most tastings in California, Washington State, New York, and Oregon
starts at $25.00-$40.00, so when I found out the cost for the tastings in South
Africa I was shocked. The average is $3.00-$6.00, Ken Forrester being $3.00
(ZAR30.00). The best was yet to come because at the end of the day after the wine tastings, I had reservations at The Tasting room at Le Quartier Français, Franschhoek, the#53 rated restaurant in the top 100 list in the worlds best restaurants.
This or these wines remind me
of:
I love the Rhône, and almost all Rhône style blends whether
they are from the Cotes du Rhône region or grown in the New World regions. To
me Ken Forrester would have gotten a higher rating for me if it were not for
the earlier tastings on their petit range wines, because to me I could not
really tell any difference between the lower priced Chenin Blanc’s and the mid-ranged priced Chenin Blanc wines.
It was not until tasting the Icon Range Rhône blends that I fell in love.
Normally the Shiraz wines were attracting my attention, but for Ken Forrester’s
wines it was the Three halves that reminded me of Kamen Estates, Sonoma vineyards and
their Rhône style blend which is the best I have had outside of Avignon,
France. I can now add Ken Forrester to that prestigious list.
Bouquet
& Palette:
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Wine & Grape:
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Nose:
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Palette Experience:
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A youthful fresh wine with quince and pear drop flavors.
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Earlier picked freshness shows on palate with crunchy
green apple and grapefruit flavors. Good mouth feel and appetizingly tangy
finish.
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Golden hued and full bodied, with melon and spicy baked
apple aromas. Layered, with mineral notes enhanced by honeycomb and caramel flavors
from lees contact.
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A harmonious balance, which can be achieved between fruit
and delicate oak/vanilla flavors, as they combine to form complex, soft flavors
with sufficient body to enhance even spicy and full flavored meals.
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Mourvedre, Grenache, Shiraz
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Reserve Chenin Blanc
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Rich layered with dried apricot, vanilla and honey.
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64% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 6% Mourvedre
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The character is somewhat 'wild' a little brambly with
hints of nutmeg, cinnamon, dark spices, with vanilla scents and a distinct,
concentrated red-fruit focus.
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Château or Vineyard Owner:
Ken Forrester
Winemaker:
Pieter Rossouw
Tasting room address:
Scholtzenhof farm
Winery Road
Stellenbosch 7600
South Africa
S34° 1' 40.9''
E018° 49' 6.9''
Cross streets:
R44 & Winery Road
Contact Information:
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Tasting room:
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+27 21 855 2374
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Fax:
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+27 21 855 2373
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Website:
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Email:
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Hours of tastings:
Open Monday - Friday: 09h00 - 17h00
Saturday: 9h30 - 15h30
Winter (May - August): 09h30 - 13h30
S. African Standard Time (GMT +2:00)
Review by:
Chef Sean Overpeck (CFE)
Chef Sean cooks for soldiers in Afghanistan, 2012:
“I like cooking with wine;
sometimes I even add it to the food.”
