Everything about Marc Kent, even if he doesn’t say it in so many words, clearly states: 'I don’t like pretension.' Then again, in Marc's case, he may very well say it in more colourful words. Those who think there's rather a lot of that in the world of wine may identify.
Vintage 17
'I am amused by people who stick their noses in the glass and hem and haw about what they smell and what they taste and whether it’s this or whether it's that. If you like it, drink it. Or move on to something else.'
He arrived on the scene in 1994 as a cellar technologist and got down to making some wine in 1996 in an old outbuilding on a somewhat run-down Franschhoek fruit farm tucked away in a narrow, overgrown kloof in a hidden corner of the valley.
The property, with its rare example of a humble eighteenth-century Cape pioneer dwelling, had been bought and restored in 1993 by a syndicate of businessmen. It included Tim Rands of leading national wine distribution company Vinimark, Mad Men admen John Hunt, Reg Lascaris and Martin Denny, and hotelier Hans Enderle. There was a sense, perhaps, that both the owners and their unblooded young winemaker had something to prove.
They did just that. Simply by making some of the best Shirazes, cabernets, and sémillons around. And by selling more wine than ever intended or even imagined, and with the minimal amount of contrived endorsement, whether it be marketing, advertising, promotions, or shows.
Marc found his way to Franschhoek thanks to Jacques Borman of Boschkloof. While studying, Marc had done his practical stints with Borman, who was at the time cellarmaster at venerable Franschhoek farm La Motte and who had become acquainted with Tim Rands when he acted as a consultant to Boekenhoutskloof.
Aromatic green fig preserve with ginger and chilli recipe by Marc Kent paired with chilled Boekenhoutskloof Noble Late Harvest wine....
Duck Cassoulet recipe by Marc Kent paired with Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon....