2002 Glen Carlou Grand Classique

I needed a wine that would go well with steak tips so I decided to try the 2002 Glen Carlou Grand Classique ($18). I knew it was a Bordeaux style blend with an emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon so I thought it might work well with the tips.

The Glen Carlou winery is located in the Paarl Valley of South Africa. The winery was established in 1985 by famed wine maker, Walter Finlayson. Around 1994, his son David joined him at the winery. They established an excellent reputation. Currently, the winery is owned ny the Hess Group, which owns other international wineries including the Hess Collection in Napa, Peter Lehmann in Australia and Bodega Colomé in Argentina. David Finlayson is still at the winery as its cellarmaster and managing director.

The 2002 Glen Carlou Grand Classique is a classic Bordeaux blend comprised of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. These percentages vary a bit from vintage to vintage. The wine was barrel aged for two years in French oak, 50% new and the remainder one and two year old barrels. It has an alcohol content of 14.5% and thw winery states that optimum drinkability is from 2006–2010.

The wine has a rich, red color with an intriguing nose of spice and black currants. On the palate, there are ripe dark fruit flavors, especially plum and blackberry. It is also a smoky wine with an intense spicy backbone. The tannins are relatively smooth and the wine has a lingering finish. This is definitely a wine that pairs best with beef and the steak tips paired very well with the wine. This is not a subtle wine, but rather a bold one that makes you take notice. I very much enjoyed this wine and would recommend it as a Drink & Buy.