Glen Carlou Merlot 1989

Glen Carlou in Paarl was originally a partnership between Walter Finlayson, who previously had made a name for himself at Blaauwklippen, and Johannesburg advertising executive Graham de Villiers – vines planted in 1984 and the maiden vintage being 1988.

What of the Merlot 1989? The 1991 edition of Platter’s rated it Three and a Half Stars and wrote of it as follows: “Gutsy, lively Merlot (stiffened by a touch of Cabernet Franc) with a penetrating steely-mineral character (not yet a conventionally softer Merlot type) with a slight taste of violets. Plenty of substance… alc 12.5%.”

What a difference nearly 40 years makes. Drinking it now, I thought it was elegant and full of charm but more SA light red than Right Bank Bordeaux. Cranberry, raspberry, hints of cassis and olive, tobacco, earth and pencil shavings. Medium bodied with great fruit clarity still in evidence, bright acidity and powdery tannins. Lively and still possessing plenty of nuance.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

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