Estate Reserve

Beef, veal and fine aged cheese.

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 that we needed 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. 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.

Matured for 18 months in French oak and racked on average every four months.

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.

Winemaker Dirk and assistant Lehandri endeavour to make Glenelly wines as naturally as possible with wild yeast fermentation and little to no acidification. The team follows a minimal intervention approach to winemaking yet intensive sorting and care is taken when receiving the grapes. We use France’s most recognised coopers (mostly from Taransaud, Boutes and Sylvain) to ensure a gentle and precise elevage, preserving the identity of the terroir of Glenelly. Hygiene is of utmost importance in the cellar and a combination of both hot water and ozonated water is used for cleaning.