September 15, 2023 - Really enjoyed this again. Last note seems close to this bottle too, though I also got some honey sweetness in many sips, and then it resolves into something intriguing (seashells?) if not wholly delicious. Overall a very nice glass and very nicely priced.
February 13, 2023 - med+ body, stone fruit, apple, hazelnut, absolutely delicious.
November 17, 2022 - PnP, chilled, but continued to open with some air. Apple, pear, citrus and some leesy notes on the nose. All of these carry over to the medium to plus bodied palate along with some spice. honey, herb and minerality. The acidity is balancing (but not searing), and any oak is integrated. Should hold for several years.
A very nice expression of South African Steen. Will buy again.
October 9, 2022 - We had this over 2 days. It had interesting flavors of pear, citrus, apple and flowers. We had 1 glass without food and I think it would have gone better with food. The 2nd time we didn’t have the right pairing. I’d like to try it again.
Jen preferred the Hermit Crab to this.
September 26, 2022 - Have been searching for a good white wine pairing for vegetarian pizza and this the best one yet one. Nicely chilled for the patio, the nose is full bodied and serious. In the mouth it stands up well to the spicy, sweet tomato sauce and finishes strongly. Perfect.
July 5, 2022 - Screw cap. Lovely, intense, and elegant nose offers leesy and paraffin aromas mingling with baked apple-pear, stone fruit, herbs, and touches of lemon citrus adding further complexities. The full-bodied palate is rich, creamy, and textured with complex layers of honey, vanilla, oak spice, baked apple-pear, white pepper, white floral, and dried herb flavours in a dry profile. Acids are fresh, zesty, and textured, while leesy mineral with touches of baked apple, dried herb, and citrus linger on the long, juicy, lip-smacking finish.
Full report: http://vintagewinepicks.blogspot.com/2022/07/ken-forrester-old-vine-reserve-chenin-blanc-2019-south-africa-wine-review.html
April 20, 2022 - Ungrafted with WineFolly (Ungrafted, SF): (blind)
Pale straw
* Dry.
* Vague sulfur. Melon. Smiterpenic. Ripe melon.
* Really good minerality. Med plus acid. Minor phenolics. Long finish. High quality.
* 12.5% alcohol.
* Vague cabbage. Maybe cauliflower. Slight radish. Gruner. Federsliel 2020.
* Or Pinot gris?
Actually 2019 Ken forester. Chenin. Old vine reserve. Stellenbosch.
- papaya. Acid is high!
- Very interesting fruit and quite enjoyable to drink.
January 15, 2022 - A superb value at just $18 in Ontario, this is yet another example of one of the finest matches of varietal and location in the entire wine world. Simply put, South Africa makes exceptional Chenin Blanc wines, and this is a great value even by the standards of high-value South African wine, showing notes of apple-pear, lemon-lime, tropical fruit like pineapple, minerals, nuts, white flowers, and white pepper. It really is that complex, even as the orchard and citrus fruit leads the way. There are just so many secondary and background notes. The zesty acidity and drying tannins, the latter of which come late on the palate, suggest it may still be a year or two away from its peak, but even now it's admirably balanced, rounding into form with some aeration. It's hard to find better value than this, but, price aside, it's excellent wine.
January 7, 2022 - Monumental nose, as big as a Chardonnay nose, of minerals, 60 minute dry cleaners and stonefruit. Mouth of stewed peaches, lanolin/wool and passionfruit. Good acid in the finish of lychees, honeycomb that's been chewed for a few minutes and snowpeas.
January 5, 2022 - PnP.
Delicious and complex. Consistent with previuos notes. Has some staying power. Getting more especially when on sale.