Glenelly, Lady May 2020

Description

Lady May is Glenelly’s flagship estate wine, paying tribute to the pedigree of its legendary owner, May De Lencquesaing – previous owner of the world famous Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande of Bordeaux.  Crafted from the best Bordeaux components of 2020, it reveals rich dark berry aromas with hints of mocha and cedar on the nose. The palate offers sweet fruit flavours, smooth tannins, and a long, refined finish.

COMMEMORATIVE LABEL
In honour of May de Lencquesaing’s 100th birthday, a special label graces the Lady May 2020 vintage. With the words “Celebrating a Century of Life” and a subtle ‘100’ woven behind the statue emblem, it pays quiet tribute to a remarkable legacy. A rare collector’s item for your cellar.

Drink now or hold for up to 25 years.

WEATHER CONDITIONS – Simonsberg, Stellenbosch

• An exceptionally warm and dry spring resulted in good and even bud burst.
• The temperatures during the flowering and berry set period were average, with significantly less fluctuations than in the previous years.
• Good rainfall of around 100 mm towards the end of October was crucial to replenish soil moisture and ensured the vines had sufficient water during flowering and berry set.
• Moderate temperatures during veraison and early ripening laid the foundations for a good harvest season.
• Consistently warm conditions, including a few heatwaves during harvest, meant most cultivars were harvested earlier.
• The warm and dry conditions ensured healthy canopies that could function optimally, leading to great physiological ripeness on all varieties.
• A vintage with wonderful concentration, expressive aromatics and while it is more accessible in youth than a cooler vintage, it has the structure and acidity to allow it to mature with great benefit.

WINEMAKING

• The grapes were hand-picked and lightly crushed before being transferred into stainless steel tanks.
• Fermentation occurred naturally, with extraction carefully managed by limiting pump- overs to a maximum of two per day.
• Following fermentation, the wine remained in contact with the skins for an additional 2-3 weeks.
• It was then matured for a total of 24 months in 300L French oak barrels.
• Initially, the wine spent 12 months aging as individual components in 30-40% first-fill barrels. Subsequently, after blending, it was returned to 75% first-fill barrels for an additional 12 months.

GRAPE VARIETIES : 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot

PRODUCTION OF LADY MAY 2019: 5,142 cases – 30,856 bottles

VINEYARD

Nestled in a striking amphitheatre, on the foothills of Simonsberg Mountain, our vines benefit from a unique diversity of microclimates.  The soils on which they are planted are amongst the oldest in
the world. They consist of decomposed granite with a subsoil of clay and enable good drainage for the roots to grow deep, contributing to the complexity of our wines.

The Lady May is crafted from various sites located on southeast-facing slopes. The final blend will differ slightly every year, depending on how the vintage affected each individual block or cultivar. Cabernet Sauvignon, making up 75% of the 2019 blend, is always the leading component and backbone of the blend. The small percentages of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot add extra length, density, and complexity.

The southeastern slopes are critical in the production of Lady May. These slopes are steep and therefore very well-drained, ensuring smaller berries with increased concentration. They are also more exposed to the prevailing winds, which both cool the vineyard down and keeps them healthy.

The southeastern slopes receive the least amount of solar radiation and shortest sunshine hours. This combination ensures much slower and more even ripening, enabling fantastic tannin and flavour
development and is crucial to making a wine that has a dense, but fine tannin structure with great length and ageing potential.

ANALYSIS

Alcohol: 14.43 % Vol.
Total Acidity: 5,7 g/L
pH: 3,52
Residual Sugar: 2,8

Additional information

Beef, Venison, Lamb and Hard Cheese.