Lady May Cabernet Sauvignon

Located in the Simonsberg region of Stellenbosch, the Glenelly estate benefits from a Mediterranean climate conducive to exceptional wines. The influence of fresh winds from the Atlantic tempers the sunny days and refreshes the nights, ensuring the berries gradually ripen while retaining their acidic freshness. Lady May is a Bordeaux-inspired blend, composed mainly of Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The berries, barely crushed, fermented with natural yeasts in stainless steel vats. The must then macerated on the marc for two to three weeks, gaining in complexity. After gentle pressing, the juice was transferred to new French oak barrels. The wine will then age there for two years. It has a deep, intense red color. On the nose, refined aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry , and black cherry mingle with notes of graphite, cedar , and violet. On the palate, the attack is powerful and structured, supported by silky tannins and balanced acidity. The aromatic complexity continues with touches of sweet spices, dark chocolate and a long and harmonious finish.

The first grape vines were planted in South Africa by Dutch settlers in the 1650s, although wine production did not really take off until the arrival of French Protestants in the 1680s with their skills and knowledge of viticulture. Stellenbosch is also a historic wine region, with the first vineyards being planted there in the 1690s. Today, South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the Southern Hemisphere. With over 300 years of winemaking history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often share more in common stylistically with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and acclaim for its wide variety of styles. South Africa's wine industry is spread across the lush and rugged landscape of the Western Cape. Here, the abundance of mountains, valleys and plateaus allows winemakers to produce a wide variety of styles. Vineyards are also found in the Orange River region of the Northern Cape, where the flat, arid landscape is dominated by the Kalahari Desert. Most of South Africa's wine regions have a Mediterranean climate, heavily influenced by the meeting of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The country's signature grape variety is Pinotage, an indigenous cross of Pinot Noir and Cinsault that is rarely found in quantity in other wine-producing countries. Shiraz (Syrah) is also widely planted, as are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (often combined in a Bordeaux blend). South African Chardonnay, Chenin and Sauvignon Blanc have become popular internationally in recent years.