Glen Carlou Grand Classique 2009
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Blend: 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, 16% Malbec, 16% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2009 Grand Classique is a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, 16% Malbec, 16% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc aged in new and used barrel for 18 months. It has a lifted bouquet of raspberry and dark plum aromas that needs to develop more complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet, kirsch-tinged entry. The acidity is very well entwined with the bright redcurrant and strawberry fruit that leads to a bright, vibrant finish. Perhaps not a long term Grand Classique, but this is well crafted.
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Wine Enthusiast
Notes of cocoa and oak-derived spice add depth to the ripe, dark fruit core of this wine. Black berry, cherry and plum flavors abound on the plush palate, framed by firm tannins and a thick, supple texture. Gripping plum-skin and cigar-box notes linger long on the finish.
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One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
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