Glenelly Estate, 'The Glass Collection', Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2018

Overview of the Wine
Located on the southern slopes of the Simonsberg, Glenelly is owned by May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, Bordeaux doyenne and former owner of Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.

Struck by the tremendous potential of South Africa's terroir and the beauty of the country, Mme de Lencquesaing decided to embark on a French adventure on African soil. She purchased Glenelly in 2003, and subsequently planted 66 of the property's 128 hectares to vineyards. The first estate-grown fruit came on line in 2007, and Glenelly's state-of-the-art winery building was completed in 2009. The 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.

Organic.

Grape / Blend
100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin
Stellenbosch, South Africa

Tasting Notes
In 2003, at the youthful age of 78, May-Elaine de Lenquesaing bought a property on the lower slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain and begin renovating the property of what was to become Glenelly Estate. What makes this story so compelling is that she was the previous owner of one of Bordeaux’s great wines estates, Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.   Almost two decades later and the end results have been impressive and her vision has started to manifest itself beautifully. One of the better ways to get a feel for what an estate can offer is through its entry level wines. In this case the Glass Collection series, particularly with the Glass Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, is a phenomenal effort. The just released 2018 Glenelly Glass Collection Cabernet Sauvignon is another great example of why Stellenbosch is now recognized as one of the best places on the planet for producing Cabernet and more importantly, also some of the best valued Cabernet in the world.

91 Points - Tim Atkin
You’d expect a winery created by a former second growth Bordeaux chateau owner to be good at making Cabernet Sauvignon, even at this comparatively inexpensive price, and you’d be right. Fresh, elegant and perfumed, with cassis and lead pencil notes, graceful tannins and stylish 15% new wood. 2022-2016

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast
There's a lovely herbal character upfront on the nose of this wine, expressed in waves of black currant leaf, fresh cigar tobacco and licorice root. That earthy impression is supported by ample tones of cassis, blackberry and plum at the core. The palate is medium in weight but defined in structure, with moderately gripping tannins and a lengthy, fruit skin-fueled finish.

Product Size: 750 ml