1 | Wine | South Africa, 2009, 750 ml

"This has a hearty, slightly rugged core of dark currant, plum sauce and fig paste, while the edges are polished and racy, with alder wood, sweet spice and anise providing a nice contrast through the finish. Shows better purity than in some previous vintages."

"Smudged on the nose with baked red cherry and soy aromas. The palate is crisp and ripe on the entry with touches of red currant and wild strawberry, leading to a poised finish with good length, if not great complexity."

"Brambly blackberry and raspberry fruit on the nose with a touch of dried herbs and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with dusty tannins, fleshy black fruit and a smooth, harmonious, crowd-pleasing finish with a savoury edge."

"The FMC has a beautifully defined, intoxicating bouquet with lemon curd, frangipane, almond and just a touch of nutmeg. The palate has a rounded, waxy texture with wonderful harmony and precision. There are subtle flavours of dried apricot, brioche, vanilla, a touch of honey (perhaps a little botrytis) and a hint of spice. Seductive, harmonious and very focussed, The FMC is a sublime expression of South African Chenin Blanc."

"It is reticent at first and takes time to open up. It retains a pleasing sense of aloofness, which one would want from this South African icon. Patience is required, for it eventually rewards you with blackberry, briary, fresh tobacco, cedar and mint...not a million miles away from Pauillac! The palate is medium-bodied with fine, supple tannins: blackberry, raspberry and graphite all perfectly delineated with great refinement married with intensity on the finish. You would be hard pressed to find another wine that delivers such class at this price."

"Quite juicy, this features nice grippy briar and licorice snap notes coursing through the core of steeped black currant and fig fruit. Toasted, but integrated, with the licorice edge hanging nicely on the finish."

"The nose is beautifully defined with scents of melon, honeysuckle and white peach with just a hint of creme patissiere. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry with subtle almond and hazelnut. It has wonderfully integrated vanilla-tinged oak and a tense, mineral-rich finish that is Corton-Charlemagne in all but name and price. This is one of South Africa’s benchmark Chardonnays."