Glen Carlou Tortoise Hill White 2009

Glen Carlou Tortoise Hill White 2009

Looking for some uncomplicated quaffing the other day, I opted for Tortoise Hill White 2009 from Paarl winery Glen Carlou. This wine is a rather exotic blend of 38% Viognier, 36% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Semillon and 11% Verdelho, so potentially some interest despite being priced at a modest R39 a bottle. I must report however that it proved extremely disappointing – the most insipid stuff I’ve encountered for a long while, the vinous equivalent of listening to Mariah Carey or Celine Dion.

Not so long ago, Glen Carlou under David Finlayson (now at self-owned Edgebaston) made very good wines, if in a  modern idiom, but it’s been a while since I’ve had anything from this producer that really excited me.  A Donald Hess art gallery and a restaurant do not an industry leader make…