Ken Forrester The FMC Chenin Blanc 2021

Grapes for this wine from Ken Forrester's Icon Range are from a single parcel of bush vines in Stellenbosch, planted in the early 1970s. After careful selection, the wine was fermented with ambient yeasts in 400L oak barrels, then aged on the lees in barrel for just under a year. Greg Sherwood MW: Loaded with dried peaches, apple strudel and brioche with a top note of tarte tatin. Intense, punchy, focused toffee apple, apple crumble and caramelised notes on the finish. This is a big, rich and oaky wine, but it works. Beverley Blanning MW: Lifted and lovely nose, complex baked pineapple, acacia honey and vanilla. Silky texture and blindingly bright fruit, with spine-tingling acidity. Oak is a supporting player to the upfront, perfectly ripe fruit. Roger Jones: Bright, fresh stone fruit, aromas of toffee apple and sultana. Layered, fresh palate with racy acidity, and gentle caramelised pineapple. It has a lovely purity followed by that clean, refreshing citrus lime cut. Drinking window: 2023-2033. Score - 96. (Panel, decanter.com, March 7, 2023)