“When we started making Grenache in 1996 it had all the attributes of great Pinot Noir. But nobody was interested, and nobody could pronounce it!” chuckles Forrester. “But it has come into its own and people are beginning to discover it now.”Famous vinosAlthough perhaps more famous for his remarkable Chenin Blancs, Ken Forrester has carved out a formidable reputation for working with grapes such as Mourvèdre, Shiraz and Grenache Noir; all varieties that thrive in the warm Mediterranean climate of the southern Rhône valley… and corners of the Stellenbosch winelands.“You should be planting what works on your soil,” says Forrester, who farms 50 hectares of his own land, and leases another 38 hectares on neighbouring properties. “Our soils here are generally too poor for Cabernet and Merlot, but Rhône varietals don’t need fertile soils.”Forrester also applies his magical Chenin touch to the white wines of the Rhône, particularly Viognier and Roussanne. This last is typically blended with the grape Marsanne, but Forrester bottles his as an unusual single-varietal. “It’s a blend of Roussanne and Roussane... because we have no Marsanne,” booms Forrester with a laugh. “Necessity is the mother of invention and nothing clears the mind like the absence of alternatives!”Read complete article online...