Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Ken Forrester — The FMC Chenin Blanc 2024
Stellenbosch, South Africa 🇿🇦

Overview
A benchmark, world-class expression of South African Chenin Blanc, showcasing depth, precision, and layered complexity. The FMC represents Ken Forrester’s top selection, crafted for texture, longevity, and serious terroir expression rather than easy immediacy.

Aromas & Flavors
Lovely ripe baked pear leads the aromatics, followed by subtle citrus peel, gentle tropical tones, and floral hints of acacia. The palate leans more stony and yellow-fruited than juicy, with honeydew, orchard fruit, and a refined mineral thread carrying through the mid-palate.

Mouthfeel
Elegant, structured, and finely layered. Not plush or overtly rich, instead focused, composed, and quietly powerful with excellent tension and balance.

Food Pairings
Roast poultry with herbs, grilled seafood with citrus butter, seared scallops, creamy risotto, aged Alpine cheeses, or Moroccan-spiced dishes.

Verdict
A sophisticated, cerebral Chenin Blanc that rewards attention. Precision meets quiet power, delivering complexity without heaviness and showing clear aging potential.

Did You Know?
FMC stands for Forrester’s Mission Chenin, named after the original Mission Station vineyard block that inspired this flagship cuvée, now regarded as one of South Africa’s most collectible and age-worthy Chenin Blancs.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is the kind of Chenin that reminds you why the Cape has earned global respect, layered, disciplined, mineral-driven, and deeply expressive. Serious wine, serious pleasure. — 7 hours ago

Marc Melser

9.0

We had the 2016 and 2018 Vintage’s on 7/3-4/25 in a vertical tasting. The 2016 has more blueberry, sassafras and tea. The 2018 has more strawberry, red cherry and cedar. Both are good, both are fruit forward and medium bodied. both are good representatives of a good Oregonian Pinot Noir — 7 months ago

Pat Mead

9.0

2024 Vintage on 1/02/2026. Very smooth Pinot Noir with notes of raspberry and plum.. Delicious red, would buy this again! — a month ago

Andrew Formi

9.2

Must visit… — 3 months ago

Chris Zitzman

8.9

“We had it at a restaurant. It was $100. It was ‘fine’.
Best,
Bethy — 4 months ago

with Beth

Jack O'Hara

9.0

Robust and complex flavor. Nice strength in a Pinot rooted in respectable terroir. Smooth notes of jam, black cherry, and some oak on the palate — 10 months ago

Norman

9.4

Tried this at Sake World and this the first time I was able to try it for real. Excellent with more power than The Muni so better later in the evening with the richer food. Was a great second. — 2 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.1

[Tasted on October 3, 2025 at etc. in Nashville]

Black cherry, raspberry and blueberry fruit, with black tea, cola, rose petal and mandarin orange notes. — 9 months ago

Max Gottesfeld, FWS, CSW

9.0

777/115. Light with elegant fruit and nice earth tones. Good acidity and balance. — 9 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.3

Tight small berries and smoke with amazing balance. Would never get this vintage in Europe. Amazing! — 2 years ago