Glenelly is making some increasingly impressive wines from its vineyard on the Simonsberg, Stellenbosch
Website: https://glenellyestate.com/
Glenelly is Stellenbosch with a French accent. Back in 2004 former Château Pichon-Longueville-Lalande owner May de Lencquesaing purchased a property in the Simonsberg and planted a vineyard, at the age of 78. May, who has just turned 100 (and is still actively involved, supported by her grandchildren), planted 58 hectares of vineyards in 2004 and 2005, and since then, Glenelly has gone on to make some impressive wines.
I tasted these wines with winemaker Dirk van Zyl and sales and marketing manager Nina-Mari Bruwer. Dirk took over as winemaker when founding winemaker Luke O’Cuinneagain left for Vergelegen in 2022, and his first vintage was 2023.
Because of the age of the vineyards, some replanting is taking place, which is giving the team a chance to do some fine tuning. Neighbours on the Simonsberg include Rustenberg, Tokara and Delaire Graff. It’s quite a location.
Glenelly Glass Collection Unoaked Chardonnay 2024 Stellenbosch, South Africa
Lovely depth and concentration with low alcohol (12.2%) and good acidity. Chiselled and detailed with nice crystalline citrus fruit. 93/100
Glenelly Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2023 Stellenbosch, South Africa
12% new oak but just 6 months in barrel because of the vintage. Textured and layered with lovely pear and peach. Nice oak integration adding some mealy depth. 93/100
Glenelly Syrah Le Rosé de May 2025 Stellenbosch, South Africa
No added sulfites, full malolactic. Stony, mealy and textural with a lovely salty edge to the pear and apple fruit. This is nourishing with amazing texture. 94/100
Glenelly Glass Collection Syrah 2022 Stellenbosch, South Africa
Lovely sweet cherry and berry fruits with some peppery detail. Fruity and expressive with no new oak. Nice tannic grip under the fruit. 92/100
Glenelly Glass Collection Cabernet Franc 2022 Stellenbosch, South Africa
Grainy and chalky with good structure and lovely blackberry and blackcurrant fruit. Nice tannic grip here. Lovely. 94/100
Glenelly Glass Collection Merlot 2021 Stellenbosch, South Africa
Sweet spice laden cherry and plum fruit with some warmth and richness and a hint of ginger spice. 92/100
Glenelly Glass Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Stellenbosch, South Africa
Leafy and spicy with sweet blackcurrant fruit. Grippy and structured with nice density and a spicy, drying finish. Classic Stellie Cab. 93/100
Glenelly Estate Reserve 2018 Stellenbosch, South Africa
14% Syrah in this. Lovely concentration and structure with a core of sweet blackcurrant fruit. Beginning to open up and show off the fruit but still with some structural bite. Lovely. 94/100
Glenelly Lady May 2020 Stellenbosch, South Africa
14% alcohol. Concentrated, fine and gravelly combining beautifully balanced sweet fruit with some good structure. So polished and refined with great purity and balance. Just beautiful. 95/100
