I had the pleasure of tasting the Glenelly Lady May – a 2014 Bordeaux style red wine awarded 5-stars in the Platters Guide! This wine retails for R520 a bottle so I made sure I saved it for a special occasion.
The Lady May 2014, is a fabulous blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. The name, Lady May, pays tribute to its legendary owner, world-renowned Bordeaux winemaker, Madame May de Lencquesaing.
“It has always been my dream to craft the finest Cabernet Sauvignon blend outside of France. At the grand age of 78, I finally discovered Glenelly Estate, in the heart of the iconic Stellenbosch, the ideal place for my vision to become reality. Selected from the highest and coolest vineyard slopes, these grapes confer to Lady May elegance, exceptional depth, and ageing potential. This wine is my legacy.”
Yes, you read that right! She achieved that dream at 78 years of age!
How Glenelly Lady May was made:
The grapes were hand-sorted, lightly crushed and naturally fermented in stainless steel tanks. After 2-3 weeks post-fermentation skin contact and a gentle pressing, malolactic fermentation took place in oak barrels. The wine remained on the lees for a long period of time before racking, every four months on average. The wine was matured for 24 months in new oak barrels from the finest French coopers.
Tasting notes:
The Lady May 2014 is an intense, deeply coloured wine. Elegant and complex with a big but classic structure, it offers an alluring invitation to dark-fruited, richly-tannined depths. Fresh blackberry, cassis, dark cherry and spicy plum notes perfectly combine with dense, age-worthy tannins. Refined and balanced with distinct minerality and underlying fruit power, the wine is fresh, stylish and subtle, with a long, layered finish.
Awards:
Glenelly has produced several highly-acclaimed vintages of Lady May, reaping prestigious awards, including a pinnacle 5-star rating for the 2009 and 2014 vintages in Platter’s wine guide.
Retail price:
Lady May 2014 can be purchased online at www.glenelly.co.za and is available nationwide at specialist wine merchants. Recommended retail price: R520.
