Critics Ratings

2014:
‘Lavish 2014 (5*) like 2013, cab-based with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot to create complex, cellarworthy flagship. Bold yet lively, cassis & mulberry combine well with graphite, cedar & spices on firm but refined tannins. Natural ferment, as all; new French oak 24 months.’ – Platter's SA Wine Guide 2020, 5* (95/100)

‘The 2014 release has less Cabernet Sauvignon and more Cabernet Franc than the 2013 and is better for it in my opinion. it's another wine that lives up to the Bordeaux pedigree of its owner, May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, with violets and graphite on the nose, notes of chocolate and mint, fine tannins and a long, refreshing finish. 2021-29’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 96/100

'This wine hasn't long been released to the UK market and is well worth seeking out for laying down over the next decade or so. Ideal vintage conditions with no extreme temperatures ensured extended hang time and beautifully ripe fruit. The Cabernet Sauvignon is down to 74%, joined by 12% Merlot,10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot for aromatic lift. Smooth and velvety on the palate with more plummy red-fruit charm (from the Merlot) than previous vintages, alongside floral and vanilla spice, a cool spearmint freshness and mouthcoating tannins. Complex, opulent, silky and seductive, this already has amazing tension and vibrancy.’ - Tina Gellie, Decanter.com, 95/100 (Aug 2020)

‘The 2014 Lady May is naturally fermented and matured in 300-liter French oak. Two bottles were tasted, one slightly oxidized, the other much more representative, offering vibrant blackberry and bilberry fruit and scents of cedar and wild mint that emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and well-judged acidity. There is a light spicy undercurrent, and white pepper and clove linger on the finish. Very fine.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 93/100 (Oct 2019)

2015:
‘Still finishing in bottle, winemaker Luke O'Cuinneagain says this vintage won't be released until late 2021 (or perhaps even 2022 if Covid-19 delays things further), but that extra time will only benefit what is a 'textbook' vintage. It's hard to believe that the vines were only 10 years old for this wine, such is its power and concentration. Compared to the 91% Cabernet Sauvignon of 2008, this vintage is now 69%, with 13% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot – a blend O'Cuinneagain thinks is 'about perfect'. Tight and closed still, with chewy tannins, crisp acidity and lots of cedar oak. Muscular black and blue fruit lurks behind along with iron shavings. All the elements for a great wine, with fine ageing potential.’ - Tina Gellie, Decanter.com, 95/100 (Aug 2020)

‘Very much a wine that is built to last, this is ripe, tannic and intense, combining cut grass and green herb aromas with lots of cedarwood, cigar box and structured dark berry fruit.Cabernet Sauvignon leads the way, supported by 31% Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Possibly just a little figgy on the finish. 2022-29’– Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 94/100

‘Deep ruby-black. Compact nose of graphite, toasted bread, wood-toast, vanilla fudge and dried tobacco. The fruit is broad-spectrum, ripe black fruit, giving a hint of cassis, but is more than that – truly a blend. Sleek and precise on the palate, with a floral, blueberry liqueur component that gives way to oak smoke and savoury spiciness. The tannins build but there’s nothing unripe or over-extracted here. Very, very well-made and will reward cellaring before broaching. Bordeaux meets South Africa indeed.’ – Tim Jackson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17.5/20 (Oct 2021)

‘The 2015 Lady May, retasted after several months, has a perfumed bouquet that is no longer disjointed as I found before, offering black plum and bilberry fruit, touches of peppermint coming through with aeration. The fresh, vibrant palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, blackberry and strawberry laced with cedar and mint, and still sappy on the finish. A fine Lady May that should drink well for 12–15 years.’ - Neal Martin, Vinous, 92/100 (Apr 2021)

2016:
‘"Warm, but not crazily so," is how Luke O'Cuinnegain describes the 2016 vintage, which has produced a Lady May that is plusher and a little more open than the 2015 was at the same stage but still comparatively firm and youthful. Combining Cabernet Sauvignon with 20% Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it has damson, blackcurrant and tobacco leaf flavours, grippy tannins and polished oak. 2024-30’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 94/100

‘The 2016 Lady May has a very high-toned and floral nose, to the extent that blind, I might incorrectly guess this was a Syrah! The medium-bodied palate is well-balanced, with ripe red berry fruit laced with white pepper and licorice and a pliant, silky-smooth finish. Quite classy and well-crafted. I would afford this a couple more years in bottle.’ - Neal Martin, Vinous, 91/100 (Jul 2021)

‘While both bottles I sampled had a run on the cork, the nose and palate still offered a sincere expression. The 2016 Lady May provides a green, herbal edge with elegant notes of brown baking spices that lift the dark red and black fruit essences. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is still tight, with elements of bitter black tea and dark chocolate followed by a soft notion of blackberry skin and dark plum on the mid-palate. While this is still a touch too young to consume at present, it will undoubtedly drink better in the next couple of years with additional bottle age and should drink gracefully until its 15th birthday.’ - Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, 91+/100

Provenance

Producer