Bordeaux Theme
Live Virtual Auction, 26 March 2023
Bordeaux Fine Wine
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
Owner of famous Bordeaux Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, May de Lencquesaing, decided in 2003 to make her life-long dream a reality and she purchased an estate in Stellenbosch. Continuing with the French tradition in the area, major re-investment took place with the objective to produce award-winning wines that are full of power, grace and elegance. Much work has gone into the vineyards, cellar and winemaking but, more notably, their old-world patience has contributed to the wines. The winery is environmentally friendly and the vineyards are managed with minimal intervention and sustainable techniques.
In collaboration with cellarmaster, Luke O’Cuinneagain, this is their flagship single-vineyard blend. Sourced from a cool east facing slope, ‘it’s elegant, distinguished and venerable like its owner’.
The lot consists of 2 bottles of each 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Provenance
Producer
Critics Ratings
2010 - ‘The top wine from May-Eliane de Lencquesaing’s Stellenbosch winery is, appropriately, a Cabernet-based blend with 10% Petit Verdot. It’s the best release yet from winemaker Luke O’Cuinneagain, mixing Cape fruit wight with some French flair and finesse. Serious, age-worthy stuff with fine tannins, fresh acidity and flavours of cassis, graphite and green pepper. Drink 2015 – 22’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2013, 95/100.
‘The 2010 Lady May has a very pure, intense Bordeaux-like bouquet of blackberry, cassis, mint and tobacco that expands in the glass with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, smooth and quite voluptuous for this label, and slightly meaty toward the finish, which offers graphite and brown spice on the aftertaste. Very fine – drink now and over the next decade.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 91/100 (Aug 2018)
2011 - 'This is a bold and powerful yet layered and nuanced wine, with hints of green peppercorn, tobacco leaf, cigar box and leather that add depth and interest to the cassis and brambly blackberry core. The gripping palate offers structured, mouthcoating tannins that are framed by ample acidity and ripe black berry tones. Notes of spicy black licorice and espresso unfold on the long finish. It's delicious now, but this will age beautifully through 2020.’ – Lauren Buzzeo, Wine Enthusiast, 93/100 (Mar 2015)
‘The 2011 Lady May is a blend of 85%Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot, matured in 100% new oak. This has a more refined, complex bouquet than the 2010, offering ample blackberry, graphite and cigar box aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannin and a fine line of acidity. I like the cohesion of this Cabernet blend, and the grainy, tobacco- and black pepper-tinged finish that feels reassuring classic in style. Very fine.’- Neal Martin, Vinous, 92/100 (Aug 2018)
2012 - ‘The latest in a trio of very impressive releases from Glenelly, this is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with 10% Petit Verdot. It’s a structured, well-balanced, smoky cuvée that combines freshness with concentration and latent power. The tannins are very fine indeed. Drink: 2017-26’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2016, 95/100
‘Fully mature but still giving some pleasure, as mulled plum and black currant fruit is liberally scored with charcoal, smoldering tobacco and dried sage notes. Shows a cedar echo on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 89/100 (2019)
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