After 30 years at the head of château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac, May de Lencquesaing decided to embark on a new wine adventure in South Africa. At the age of 78, she purchased Glenelly Estate, a 125ha farm in the heart of the iconic Stellenbosch appellation, producing wines since 17th century. There, on the lower slopes of the beautiful Simonsberg Mountains, on decomposed granite and sandstone soils, she planted her beloved red Bordeaux varietals as well as Shiraz and Chardonnay. The majority of the slopes are facing east and offer Glenelly an unusual cool climate for the region, enabling slow grape ripening. She built a state-of-the-art contemporary winery and hired winemaker Luke O'Cuinneagain, previously trained at Angelus, Screaming Eagle and Rustenberg. Today, the wines of Glenelly are internationally recognised for their great elegance and finesse, and the estate is a real tribute to the amazing dedication of its owner and all of her team.

The Lady May cuvée is Domain Glenelly’s landmark wine. From a single vineyard planted on an east-facing slope, the blend is made up of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Before being vinified, the grapes are sorted rigorously by hand. Fermentation takes place only with the help of indigenous yeasts. Malolactic fermentation happens in French oak casks, and the wine stays for a long time on lees before the first stirring. Unlike many of the wines from this region, made to be enjoyed young, Lady May has excellent ageing potential due to its 24-month maturation in casks. On the palate, this cuvée is fresh with delicate, velvety tannins. The dominant Cabernet sauvignon gives a structured wine, perfect to pair with a red meat dish like beef with onion, veal or lamb.