Glenelly Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 – Stellenbosch’s Bold, French-Backed Red

🍷 South African Power Meets Bordeaux Precision

You want Cabernet with character? Glenelly Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 doesn’t just show up—it makes an entrance. This isn’t some over-oaked California vanilla bomb or a timid French whisper. This is Stellenbosch: sun-soaked, granite-rooted, and unapologetically bold.

Founded by May de Lencquesaing (yes, the former owner of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande), Glenelly is where French heritage meets South African heat—and this 2018 Cab is the proof in the bottle.

💬 Critic Reviews

• 91 Points – James Suckling
  “A structured and refined Cab from Stellenbosch. Notes of blackcurrant, cedar, and graphite with firm tannins and a long, mineral finish.”

• 90 Points – Wine Enthusiast
  “Classic and elegant. Dark fruit with subtle oak integration and a savory, earthy undertone.”

🔍 Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep ruby with garnet edges—serious robe, no makeup needed.

• Nose: Crushed blackcurrant, cedar box, tobacco leaf, and pencil shavings.

• Palate: Firm and dry, but polished. Black cherry, graphite, a touch of dried herbs. It’s bold, but doesn’t yell. It commands.

• Finish: Long and mineral, like licking a smooth stone dipped in cassis.

🧑🌾 Who’s Behind It?

May de Lencquesaing didn’t just retire in South Africa—she rebuilt a legacy. When she founded Glenelly in the early 2000s, she brought decades of Bordeaux winemaking know-how and a vision for elegant power. The result? A Stellenbosch estate crafting wines that walk the tightrope between European finesse and Southern Hemisphere intensity.

🍽️ Pair It With

• Ribeye, rare and resting.

• Duck confit over lentils.

• Aged gouda or Comté.

• Philosophical debates at midnight.

📦 Wine Specs

• Variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon

• Region: Stellenbosch, South Africa

• Vintage: 2018

• ABV: 14.5%

• Oak: Matured in French oak barrels (30% new) for 18 months

• Farming: Sustainable

• Aging Potential: Now to 2030+

• Serve At: 16–18°C

This isn’t your Tuesday wine. This is your I-made-it-through-the-week wine.
Add Glenelly Estate Cab 2018 to your cart, and drink like you own a château—even if your kingdom’s just your living room.