Glenelly Estate Glenelly Cabernet Sauvignon Glass Collection

Glenelly Estate is located on the southern slopes of the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch. Originally granted to a French Huguenot by Cape governor Simon van der Stel in the late seventeenth century, It was purchased in 1865 by a British family, who ran the estate as a fruit farm for 138 years. In 2003, a new chapter in the history of Glenelly began, when the property was acquired by May-Eliane de Lencquesaing. For over 30 years, Mme de Lencquesaing was the owner of the fabled Bordeaux Chteau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, and she is recognized worldwide as a tireless ambassador of Bordeaux. Struck by the tremendous potential of South Africas terroir and the beauty of the country and its people, she has now turned her energy and attention to the Cape. After conducting exhaustive studies of Glenellys terroir, Mme de Lencquesaing planted the 316 acre property to 148 acres of red varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) and 15 acres of Chardonnay. Glenellys soils are primarily decomposed granite with a deep clay base. While most Stellenbosch vineyards are planted on western facing slopes, Glenelly is blessed with a range of aspects and sun exposures, including a high percentage of cooler eastern-facing slopes. Due to the estates location, nestled between two hills, the vineyards benefit from gentle breezes throughout the day. These influences combine to create a slightly cooler microclimate, allowing for slower ripening of the grapes and resulting in wines of great structure, elegance and finesse. Winemaker Luke OCuinneagain joined Glenelly in 2007 the year the first estate fruit came on line after five years at neighboring Rustenberg Estate. Luke has also worked abroad at such prestigious wineries as Screaming Eagle and Chteau Angelus. Maverick winemaker Adi Badenhorst, also formerly of Rustenberg, serves as a consultant. In 2009, construction was completed on Glenellys winery building, a state-of-the-art facility anchored in a hillside and operating completely on gravity flow principles. The modern, four-level structure developed with extreme sensitivity to the environment was hailed by Platters South African Wine Guide as a victory for environmentalism. Glenellys wines are fermented naturally and made with as little intervention as possible, seeking to achieve the perfect balance of French style and South African terroir. From the entry level Glass Collection inspired by Mme de Lencquesaings antique glass collection to the Estate Reserve signature red blend and the flagship Bordeaux-inspired Lady May Cabernet, Glenelly crafts inspiring wines that possess quality, complexity and elegance while remaining a true expression of their vintage and terroir.

Alcohol percentage: 14.5

Tasting Notes

This charming Cabernet delivers a classic Bordeaux profile, with excellent structure, perfect balance and length. It flaunts complex flavors of black currant, cherry and dark chocolate, tinged with alluring herbs and spice.Inspired by antique glasses from May de Lencquesaings private collection, Glenellys Glass Collection celebrates the parallels between the art of making wine and the art of making glass. Both glass and fine wine come from poor soil, and just as the glassblower breathes life into glass, the winemakers love gives life to wine.