2012 Ken Forrester The Gypsy

Community Tasting Notes (1) Avg Score: 92 points

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  9/10/2019 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points

  A blend of Swartland bushvine Grenache (53%) from a vineyard planted in 1959 at 700 m a.s.l., Syrah (41%) and Mourvèdre (6%). All varieties are vinified separately, aged for 12 months in old French oak barrels. After a careful barrel selection, the best lots are blended together and the wine is left to age for another 12 months in old oak barrels. 14% alcohol, 5,7 g/l acidity and pH 3,62.
  
  Quite translucent and somewhat developed pomegranate red color. Slightly restrained and somewhat developed nose with savory aromas of leather, some strawberry, a little bit of dark plummy fruit, a mature hint of wizened dark berries and a touch of chocolatey oak. The wine is lively, medium-bodied and textural on the palate with layered flavors of dark plums, some some ripe blackberries, a little bit of wild strawberries, light meaty umami notes, a sweeter hint of raspberry marmalade and a touch of savory, earthy spice. The acidity feels moderately high and while the medium tannins feel quite ripe and mellow at first, the slowly pile up on the gums, growing in intensity. The finish is moderately warm, somewhat grippy and rather persistent in length with complex, savory flavors of ripe dark-toned berries, some brambly blackberries, a little bit of wild strawberry, light leathery tones, a hint of wizened dark fruit and a touch of earthy spices.
  
  A very nuanced, sophisticated and savory Rhône blend with nice, firm structure and a lovely, layered taste. It is wonderful how the wine isn't just a soft, in-your-face fruit bomb, but instead a complex, harmonious and relatively structure-driven effort that might not feel that impressive immediately, but quite quickly growing on you. The use of oak feels quite judicious here, the acidity and the tannic firmness are both well-proportioned with the fruit and while the wine doesn't feel young anymore, it definitely isn't old or tertiary either. In comparison to the Ken Forrester Renegade 2014, I think that Renegade felt slightly more rewarding at this point, but I doubt there is much development left, whereas this wine is still relatively young with still quite a bit of unrealized potential. Most likely this one is going to be the better out of those two, if given enough time. Recommended.

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