Structured, stylish, intense, with plenty of vibrancy and ageing potential.
Tim Atkin MW
Estate Reserve Red Blend, Glenelly
Estate Reserve Red Blend (formerly Grand Vin de Glenelly) is the signature red wine of the estate, a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Glenelly Estate Reserve is our signature red blend, based on the classic claret blend of the 1700’s. The 2015 vintage is made from 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 10% Petit Verdot, 10% Cabernet Franc and offers plenty of ageing potential. Expect aromas of plum and cherry. Flavours of mulberry and blackcurrant leaf in the mid palate with hints of fresh herbs and rich tannins to support it all.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
14.5 %
RESIDUAL SUGAR
2.3 g/L
pH
3.60
ACIDITY
5.4 g/L
ORIGIN
South Africa
WINEMAKER
Luke O'Cuinneagain
VARIETY
Red Blend
TIME IN OAK
18 months
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Yes
CLOSURE
Cork
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Stellenbosch
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
Yes
Vintage conditions
Thanks to sufficient cold spells, full dormancy break was achieved, encouraging the vines’ health. Bud break occurred early in the season. Then warmer days but cooler nights in December created a high diurnal range but also speed up readiness of the crop. 2015 was a text book vintage but seen as “fast” and resulted in harvest starting 2 weeks earlier than the norm. Low pH levels and good acidity characterise the results of this harvest.
Vinification details
The grapes were hand-sorted and lightly crushed into stainless steel fermentation tanks. They were given a cold soak for three days before allowing the natural fermentation to start. Three pump overs a day were done on the tanks during fermentation, after which they underwent extended skin contact for 2-3 weeks. The wine was placed in French oak barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation and matured for 18 months in French oak and racked, on average, every four months.
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Dark and broody, this wine shows plush opulence with aromatics of coffee beans, black plum, cedar spice and pronounced graphite intensity.
Greg Sherwood MW
Estate Reserve Red Blend, Glenelly
Estate Reserve Red Blend (formerly Grand Vin de Glenelly) is the signature red wine of the estate, a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
The 2014 vintage has rich powerful aromatics of fresh blackberries, blackcurrant, spicy plum and cedar. Bold and rich, with fine tannin supported by ripe fresh fruit and hints of spice combine with good oak integration, merging into a long fresh finish. 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Syrah, 18% Cabernet Franc, 18% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
14.5 %
RESIDUAL SUGAR
2.7 g/L
pH
3.66
ACIDITY
5.3 g/L
ORIGIN
South Africa
WINEMAKER
Luke O'Cuinneagain
VARIETY
Red Blend
TIME IN OAK
18 months
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Yes
CLOSURE
Cork
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Stellenbosch
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
Yes
Vintage conditions
Flowering and berry set was good. Vigorous growth happened due to high soil moisture content, which was a result of the wet winter, therefore more canopy management was required. Rain in November and January meant less irrigation, but disease pressure was higher and stricter controls were needed. Ideal dry and moderate conditions reigned during ripening in late January and February. A cooler March helped with hang time on the vine. Harvest was 1 week later than normal due to late cold winter. Stellenbosch had one off the wettest seasons in years, but wine quality is exceptional.
Vinification details
The grapes were hand sorted and lightly crushed into stainless steel fermentation tanks. They were given a cold soak for three days before allowing the natural fermentation to start. Three pump overs a day were done on the tanks during fermentation, after which they underwent extended skin contact for 2-3 weeks. The wine was placed in French oak barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation, then matured for 18 months in French oak and racked on average every four months.
Contact us to discuss
... a nicely mature, herbal red with sweet spices and a hint of graphite.
Tim Atkin MW
Estate Reserve Red Blend, Glenelly
Estate Reserve Red Blend (formerly Grand Vin de Glenelly) is the signature red wine of the estate, a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
The 2013 vintage is all about elegance with underlying power. Bold aromas of blackberries, cranberry and blackcurrant are followed by hints of savoury, spicy plum with touches of cedar and floral tones. The palate entry has good richness with fine tannin supported by the ripe fresh fruit and hints of spice. Very balanced oak integration with a fresh long finish. A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 11% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
14.5 %
RESIDUAL SUGAR
1.7 g/L
pH
3.70
ACIDITY
5.4 g/L
ORIGIN
South Africa
WINEMAKER
Luke O'Cuinneagain
VARIETY
Red Blend
TIME IN OAK
18 months
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Yes
CLOSURE
Cork
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Stellenbosch
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
Yes
Vintage conditions
The 2013 harvest started two weeks later than normal. A prolonged winter into September followed by a cool spring meant a delay in bud burst by 14 days. However, cold and wet conditions helped with an even bud burst and meant the vines had enough water for the warm conditions later in the season. A warm November and moist soils lead to dense canopies which meant greater management was needed. Due to a warm dry December later cultivars ripened earlier and the earlier cultivars later, which lead to pressure in the cellar.
Vinification details
The grapes were hand sorted and lightly crushed into stainless steel fermentation tanks. They were given a cold soak for three days before natural fermentation was allowed to start. Three pump overs a day were done on the tanks during fermentation, after which they underwent extended skin contact for 2-3 weeks. The wine was placed in French oak barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation. Matured for 18 months in French oak and racked on average every four months.
Contact us to discuss
Estate Reserve Red Blend, Glenelly
Estate Reserve Red Blend (formerly Grand Vin de Glenelly) is the signature red wine of the estate, a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Rich powerful aromas of red fruits, plum and blackberries initially present themselves, followed by hints of savoury, spicy Syrah with touches of cedar and floral tones. The palate entry has good richness of ripe, fresh fruit and pepper spice supported by firm, balanced tannins. Very good oak integration with a fresh, long finish. A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Shiraz, 11% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot.
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
14.0 %
RESIDUAL SUGAR
2.6 g/L
pH
3.67
ACIDITY
5.9 g/L
ORIGIN
South Africa
WINEMAKER
Luke O'Cuinneagain
VARIETY
Red Blend
TIME IN OAK
18 months
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Yes
CLOSURE
Cork
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Stellenbosch
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
Yes
Vintage conditions
2012 was a very dry season with cool conditions during ripening. The winter of 2011 was dry but cold with very even bud burst 7 days earlier than usual. Low spring temperatures lead to slow shoot growth. During flowering there was rain which resulted in weak set, loose bunches and increased disease pressure although fortunately cool conditions prevailed from from pea bud to veraison. A temperature spike during ripening put the vines under water stress. Harvest was one week ahead, but finished a day early.
Vinification details
The grapes were hand sorted and lightly crushed into stainless steel fermentation tanks. They were given a cold soak for three days before natural fermentation was allowed to start. Three pump overs a day were done on the tanks during fermentation, after which they underwent extended skin contact for 2-3 weeks. The wine was placed in French oak barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation. Matured for 18 months in French oak and racked on average every four months.
Contact us to discuss
Syrah performs the same role in the Cape as Merlot does in Bordeaux.
Luke O'Cuinneagain, winemaker
Estate Reserve Red Blend, Glenelly
Estate Reserve Red Blend (formerly Grand Vin de Glenelly) is the signature red wine of the estate, a blend of Shiraz, Cabernet, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Glenelly's Estate Reserve combines the rich, savoury character of Syrah (40%), with blackberries, cherries, cassis and floral tones from Cabernet Sauvignon (40%). It is supported by a firm tannin structure with elegant oak integration. The palate presents a tremendous concentration of flavours with a great complexity and a fresh long finish. The remainder of the blend is Merlot (10%) and Petit Verdot (10%).
Technical analysis
ALCOHOL
14.0 %
RESIDUAL SUGAR
2.0 g/L
pH
3.70
ACIDITY
5.4 g/L
ORIGIN
South Africa
WINEMAKER
Luke O'Cuinneagain
VARIETY
Red Blend
FINED USING
Egg white
TIME IN OAK
18 months
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION
Yes
CLOSURE
Cork
BOTTLE SIZE
75cl
REGION
Stellenbosch
VEGETARIAN
Yes
VEGAN
No
Vintage conditions
A cool winter ensured a good bud burst, nine days earlier than average. Further cool conditions during berry set led to loose bunches with smaller than average berries.
Vinification details
The grapes were hand harvested, hand sorted and lightly crushed into stainless steel fermentation tanks. They were given a cold soak for three days before natural fermentation was allowed to start. Three pump overs a day were done on the tanks during fermentation, after which they underwent extended skin contact for 2-3 weeks. The wine was placed in French oak barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation. Matured for 18 months in French oak and racked on average every four months.
Contact us to discuss