"91 Points, Neal Martin, vinous.com
The 2022 Chardonnay Reserve comes from the estate. It is whole-bunch-pressed and aged in 20% new oak for 11 months, including one 5,100-liter foudre. Just 18% goes through malo. It has a perfumed bouquet with yellow fruit, brioche and saffron, opening nicely with aeration. The palate is fresh and taut with lively acidity, lime and orange pith intermixed with light lemon rind note towards the finish. The partial malo works to its advantage, imparting decent tension and gaining length on the finish. Worth seeking out. Drinking Window 2024 - 2034 Tasted August 2023
91 Points, Jason Millar Decanter.com
A warmer vintage and a more typical example of the Glenelly Chardonnay than the 2023, it shows a judicious balance between elevage in wood (10-11 months in 500L barrels, 20% new) and ripe, tropical-leaning fruit. The result is a fuller and more complex wine than the 2023, with cedar, toast and shortbread from the barrels interlaced with banana, nectarine and orange zest, plus a little more freshness and lift on the palate too. Despite its modest alcohol, this is quite an impactful wine with attractively integrated barrel maturation. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2030"
Glenelly Estate is situated in Idas Valley, Stellenbosch, on the southern slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain. Its origins date back to the 17th century when Simon van der Stel, Governor of the Cape, gave the land to the French Huguenot François Villon in 1682. In 1812 the estate remained in French hands when it passed on to Johan Peter de Villiers.
In 2003 May de Lencquesaing, then owner of the famous Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande purchased the estate. After 30 years in the wine business in France she chose this site due to her belief in the soil, the micro climate and the potential for quality wines, her belief in continuing the long relationship between the French and winemaking in South Africa going back more than three centuries, and because she believes in South Africa and wishes to play a part in its economic development.
Formerly known as Grand Vin Chardonnay, Glenelly's Estate Reserve is from vines planted in 2007, made in a complex mineral style with notes from barrel ageing.
