Lady May 2017

Lady May is Glenelly’s flagship estate wine.

The 2017 Bordeaux blend pays tribute to the pedigree of its legendary owner, May de Lencquesaing - balanced, refined and mineral. Etched with underlining fruit power, it is fresh, stylish, and subtle with dense age worthy tannins and a long, tight finish.

The wine can be enjoyed now or left for the next 20 years for pure drinking pleasure.

Our estate flagship 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 90% of the 2017 blend, is always the leading component and backbone of the blend. The small percentages of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot adding extra length, density and complexity. This particular vintage has no Merlot, as we found including Merlot took away from the purity and precision on the palate.

The grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed into stainless steel tanks. After a few days of cold soaking, the fermentation started naturally, with indigenous yeast strains. The temperature during fermentation was carefully controlled and optimal extraction was achieved by doing gentle pump overs twice a day.

After fermentation, the wine was left on the skins for 2 to 3 weeks before being pressed and transferred to French oak barrels. Each component was individually matured in a combination of 1st, 2nd and 3rd fill barrels for 12 months (40% 1st fill), before being blended and taken back to 80% 1st fill barrels for another 12 months of maturation before bottling.

24 months in barells + 3 years in bottles