It has now been more than two decades since the maiden vintage release of the FMC was labelled as the Meinert Scholtzenhof Grande Chenin 2000. Always a wine with a very distinctive personality, a bit like producer Ken Forrester himself, the FMC represents premium quality Chenin Blanc concentration with more often than not a subtle complexing hint of botrytis characteristics together with a hint of residual sugar. Love it or hate it, the FMC is undoubtedly a striking expression of Chenin Blanc that has earned itself a massive global following.

Produced primarily from a vineyard planted in 1974 with no trellis system, the vines are grown in the goblet method as bush vines, with the vineyard producing very limited yields which are picked over multiple tries (or passes), with pickers passing through the vineyard 7 to 8 times over a 4-to-5-week window. The wine is then fermented with natural yeasts in large 400 litre French oak barrels and aged for 10 to 12 months before another barrel selection results in the best lots being chosen for the final assemblage.

While it is always a pleasure to taste with Ken, whether over a long lunch at High Timber, one of his favourite restaurants in London, or with his UK importer, you can rest assured that there will never be a dull moment (and also plenty of vino is going to be consumed!) What is a little less common, or indeed a true rarity and priviledge, is getting to taste a mini vertical of this icon South African Chenin Blanc over dinner … from Magnum format! We all know that wines age more beneficially in larger formats, and this was certainly an evening to prove this point. If you are not acquainted with Ken Forrester’s fabulous FMC, track a bottle down asap and indulge yourself with one of South Africa’s most premium hedonistic Chenin Blancs produced.

Ken Forrester FMC 2016 Chenin Blanc (En Magnum)

Beautifully rich and opulent on the nose boasting marmalade, grapefruit preserve, dried apricots and peach purée with complexing notes of wet straw, waxy yellow apples and incense spice. Fabulously unctuous and opulent in the mouth, this wine is bold, dense and overtly hedonistic showing pithy peach stone fruits, granitic minerality and a generous honied length. Simply superb expression of Chenin Blanc.

(Wine Safari Score: 96+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Ken Forrester FMC 2012 Chenin Blanc (En Magnum)

Impressively fresh and individual for a 12-year-old Chenin Blanc, the aromatics are fresh and precise with only very subtle tertiary hints of fennel root, red apple, white peach, passion fruit and a most deliciously harmonious, balanced palate that shows a regal coolness, sweet sour tangy acids and hints of caramelised green fig, granadilla and freshly cut green apple. A spell binding wine. Track this vintage down if you can and discover why Ken Forrester is so famous for his Chenin Blanc wines!

(Wine Safari Score: 97/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Ken Forrester FMC 2010 Chenin Blanc (En Magnum)

An exotic pithy peacock’s tail of aromatics reveals a complex, intricate expression of Chenin Blanc showing subtle Sauternes-like notes on the nose with layers of apricot, melted honey, white peach, and warm white toast. Complex, dense and plush with a compact core of yellow stone fruits, bright tart peach, tangy acids and a substantially dense broad palate. Beautifully youthful, vibrant, and simply astounding freshness. If I’m not mistaken, this is one of the vintages more heavily affected by botrytis.

(Wine Safari Score: 96+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Ken Forrester FMC 2008 Chenin Blanc (En Magnum)

A rich, waxy, savoury nose with layers of incense spice, bruised yellow orchard fruits, wet grey slate, and savoury earthy leesy notes of lemon biscuit, wet straw and oatmeal. Broad, plush, and creamy, the texture is fleshy and glycerol with incredible weight, gravitas and intensity but with a much softer, rounder, mellow mouthfeel than some FMC vintages.

(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Ken Forrester FMC 2006 Chenin Blanc (En Magnum)

Beautifully delineated aromatics showing burnt orange peel, honey, salted caramel, chamomile tea, tart blood orange, and a tantalising and invigorating tangy palate of tangerine, honeycomb, and piquant dried peaches. Aging beautifully, this is a regal Chenin Blanc expression that bares testament to the age ability of South African white wines.

(Wine Safari Score: 95+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Ken Forrester FMC 2003 Chenin Blanc (En Magnum)

Incredibly age worthy and youthful on the nose is the first impression of this wine. Hints of dry straw, barley sugar, caramelised peach, dried fig and peach tea lead to a palate that’s incredibly harmonious and balanced, seamlessly silky and long. Simply stunning. Chenin Blanc is truly blessed with great ageing potential.

(Wine Safari Score: 94/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

The Ken Forrester wines are imported exclusively into the UK by Enotria Wines.