Boekenhoutskloof – easier to drink than to pronounce

Marc Kent at 67 Pall Mall

Founder winemaker Marc Kent celebrates the 25th vintage of pioneering South African winery Boekenhoutskloof with a series of mini-verticals in London.

The first time I met Marc Kent was at Boekenhoutskloof in South Africa’s Franschhoek Valley in 2001, when I was working for the high-end UK grocery chain Waitrose and studying for my Master of Wine. It was my first time in the country: a hectic week or so driving from region to region in a very small hire car. Kent had been the winemaker there since 1994. He is now managing partner and technical director.

That visit and tasting...