Glenelly, Lady May 2021

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. This wine captures the relative coolness of the 2021 vintage with concentrated aromas of cassis, red berries and tobacco leaf. The palate is focused and structured, with incredible length – a wine that will reward patience.

Drink now or hold for up to 25 years.

WEATHER CONDITIONS – Simonsberg, Stellenbosch

• The post-harvest period following 2020 was unseasonably dry and warm, resulting in early leaf fall.
• Rainfall arrived later than usual, beginning towards the end of May, which delayed the establishment of cover crops.
• Winter brought good rainfall, though temperatures remained relatively mild throughout.
• Cooler conditions combined with abundant soil moisture resulted in bud break occurring approximately 14 days later than usual.
• Mild weather during flowering ensured excellent fruit set and even bunch development.
• Above-average vegetative growth was experienced due to abundant water availability and regular rainfall throughout the season.
• Lush canopies and damp conditions created disease pressure, requiring careful canopy management to ensure proper aeration, light penetration and vine health.
• Veraison was delayed, in line with the moderate and relatively cool conditions that continued through summer.
• A cooler ripening season prompted harvest to commence approximately two weeks later than in 2020.
• The slower, more measured ripening pace ensured exceptional fruit and tannin development while preserving outstanding natural acidity.

WINEMAKING

• 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 on the skins for an additional two to three weeks to develop further structure and complexity.
• The wine was then matured for 24 months in 300-litre French oak barrels.
• The first 12 months were spent ageing as individual variety components in 30–40% first-fill barrels. Following blending, the wine was returned to 70% first-fill barrels for a further 12 months.

GRAPE VARIETIES : 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot

PRODUCTION OF LADY MAY 2021: 6 250 cases | 37 500 bottles | 1 050 Magnums

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 78% of the 2021 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: 14.50 % Vol.
Total Acidity: 5,9 g/L
pH: 3,58
Residual Sugar: 2.5 g/L

Additional information