Ken Forrester Renegade 2014
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One of the very first Rhône style blends in South Africa. This elegant Rhône blend displays Old World Style with New World fruit. Hint of Grenache’s earthy rusticity and Shiraz’s noble spice with hints of nutmeg and salty black olive on the finish. Balanced with soft integrated tannins.
Serve with roasts, duckling and full flavored Mediterranean dishes as well as lamb or grilled meat and vegetables.
Blend: 57% Shiraz, 37% Grenache, 6% Mourvedre
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Wine Spectator
Light- to medium-bodied, with a silky texture and beautifully integrated tannins, this red features hints of loam and underbrush that stand behind damson plum and kirsch notes. Details of dark chocolate mark the finish. Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Drink now.
Other Vintages
2012-
James
Suckling
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Robert
Parker
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Enthusiast
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Robert
Parker
In 1993, hospitality industry veteran Ken Forrester and his wife Teresa purchased the historic Scholtzenhof estate, nestled at the base of the Helderberg in Stellenbosch. Originally established in 1689 as Zandberg, the property is one of the oldest wine farms in the Cape. Ken enlisted the help of his winemaker friend Martin Meinert in replanting and revitalizing the vineyards, with an aim to craft a white wine that could rival any in the world! And so it was that Ken Forrester Vineyards was established, with a focus on Chenin Blanc production.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
South Africa’s most famous wine-producing district, Stellenbosch, surrounds the historic town with the same name; fine winemaking here dates back to the late 1600s. Its valleys of granite, sandstone and alluvial loam soils between the towering blue-grey mountains of Stellenbosch, Simonsberg and Helderberg have the capacity to produce beautiful wines from many varieties. The climate is warm Mediterranean, tempered by the cool Atlantic air of nearby False Bay.
Perhaps most well-known for its Pinotage and Bordeaux blends, Stellenbosch also produces noteworthy wines from Syrah, Chenin blanc, Chardonnay and Sauvignon blanc. The district’s wards—Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch—all produce distinctive wines from vines with relatively low yields.