Looking back over all our tastings in 2016 of samples to evaluate new vintages and new wines there are memories that remain vivid and become indelibly stamped on one’s memeory.
One such tasting was the 2015 Glenelly Estate Un-oaked Chardonnay from Stellenbosch in South Africa’s Cape Winelands. Winemaker Luke O’Cuinneagain has been with us on numerous events that we have held here in Suffolk, and he was particularly excited to launch the five star 2015 vintage in London in September last year. It would be fair to say that my first tasting of this wine immediately ignited all the taste buds and confirmed the enormous leap forward in quality that South Africa has achieved over the last ten years.
I am pleased to say that I am not the only person excited by this wine. In the latest issue of Jancis Robinson’s ‘Purple Pages’, her colleague Julia Harding heaped significant praise on this wine:
“ I did a double take when I tasted this wine because it has so much depth and complexity for a young wine that I found it hard to believe it was un-oaked. It is not super-concentrated but refined, pure and extremely classy for the price. It is made for early drinking but I am sure it will still be very good in a couple of years, thanks also in some degree to the screwcap closure.”
Glenelly is the new home of May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, former owner of Bordeaux’s Chateau Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, having moved there in 2003. She has thrown her heart and soul into not just the vineyards and the new winery, but also the community working on the Estate. She sponsors the farmworkers’ children through school, has set up a care centre, and created proper housing with full facilities for all those families working for her.
A new shipment of the 2015 vintage is on the water, due to arrive in the middle of February. If you would like to join the happy band of followers for Glenelly’s Un-Oaked Chardonnay please pledge your requirements below. You will be invoiced as soon as the wine arrives safely to our cellars.
2015 GLASS COLLECTION UN-OAKED CHARDONNAY, GLENELLY, STELLENBOSCH.
Normal price per bottle: £13.00
6 bottles offer: £74.10 per case (6x75cl)
12 bottle offer: £140.40 per case (12x75cl)
The wine is currently available by the glass and the bottle at The Marquis, Upper Layham – if you wish to book lunch or dinner call 01473 377977.
