2017 LADY MAY Grand Vin Glenelly Estate, Lea & Sandeman

LADY MAY

2017 Grand Vin Glenelly Estate

Grapes Petit Verdot, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Cab Franc
Colour Red
Origin South Africa
ABV 14.5%

WEATHER CONDITIONS – Simonsberg, Stellenbosch Winter was late, but cold enough to allow dormancy of our vines. Low rainfall brought low soil moisture levels which led to managing stress in the vines later in the season via drip irrigation. Luckily spring sprung with good, even bud burst. Warm weather for the season with little to no rain. This led to smaller berries appearing and lower bunch mass. Although there were more bunches on the vines to make up the yield. The harvest was earlier than usual and larger than in previous years.

WINEMAKING The grapes were lightly crushed into stainless steel tanks. The fermentation started with indigenous yeast and a mixture of rack-and-returns and open pump-overs. Post-fermentation skin contact lasted 2 to 3 weeks before gentle pressing and transferring into new French oak barrels where malolactic fermentation took place. The wine stayed on its lees for a considerable period of time before racking (on average, every 4 months) and enjoyed a maturation of 24 months in new French oak barrels.

GRAPE VARIETIES 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot

PRODUCTION 3,762cases – 22,577 bottles

Alcohol: 14.5% Vol. Total Acidity: 5,86 g/L pH: 3,55 Residual Sugar: 2.1 g/L

Winemaker's notes (Jul 2023)


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The 2017 Lady May has more presence on the nose than the preceding vintage, and more complexity and delineation. The floral element is toned down compared to the 2016. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, tarry black fruit laced with truffle and a pinch of white pepper, leading to a harmonious and quite persistent finish. This is an excellent Lady May that should drink well for up to 15 years. Drinking range: 2022 - 2038 Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Nov 2021)

Glenelly Estate

Glenelly Estate in the Idas Valley, Stellenbosch, is the home estate of May de Lencquesaing, previous owner of Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Bordeaux. This is no retirement home, but an ambitious project to make serious wines in one of the Cape's most beautiful and best sited vineyard areas. May has recruited Luke O'Cuinneagain as winemaker, whose career includes Chateau Fieuzal, Angelus, Screaming Eagle and five years at Rustenberg before joining Glenelly. He is assisted by Adi Badenhost as consultant winemaker. There are three ranges of wine made at the estate. The 'Glass Collection'; premium varietals from Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot and Chardonnay. The 'Grand Vin': the signature blend of the estate, using Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged 18 month in oak barrels. 'Lady May'; the flagship wine made of the best Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 24 months in new oak.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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