2017 Glenelly, Lady May, Stellenbosch 6x75cl

Vinous 93

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 on excellent Lady May that should drink well for up to 15 years. [Neal Martin, 08/07/2021]

Anticipated maturity: 2022-2038

Tim Atkin 97

Right up there with the best Stellenbosch Bordeaux-style blends from the exceptional 2017 vintage, this is a distinguished, patrician wine where everything is in place: tannins, acidity, oak and fruit concentration. Marrying Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it has iodine and mint aromas, red berry and cassis flavours, subtle vanilla spice and impressive underlying structure. A red to cellar. [17/08/2022]

Greg Sherwood 97

If the 2015 Lady May resembled a powerful, dense, Pauillac-styled Cabernet Sauvignon led red blend, and the 2016 a broader, softer expression from a warm dry vintage, then the 2017 is pretty much the antithesis, boasting the most elegant, silky, seamlessly harmonious texture combined with an attractively fragrant, Margaux-esque delicacy, an understated density and graceful precision. While super youthful, the wine inevitably displays some of the lush, alluring and reassuringly expensive new oak creaminess, boasting layers of warm buttered brown toast smothered in black currant preserve, fresh espresso, hints of mocha dust and delicate vanilla pod spice notes. But probably the most pleasing element about this wine is the way ex-winemaker Luke O’Cuinneagain captured the truest essence of the 2017 vintage with its extreme purity, weightless fruit concentration that dances across the palate together with a focused, piercing intensity on the long, silky, luxurious finish. This is class personified and I for one am completely smitten. Drink on release and over 25+ years. [16/03/2023]

Anticipated maturity: 2023-2042