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appoints new head winemaker
Andrea Freeborough the new head winemaker at Distell
The new head winemaker at Distell is Andrea Freeborough. Cellar-master at Nederburg since 2015, she left her position at the Paarl winery at the end of May to take up her new role in overseeing the production of South Africa’s largest wine portfolio. Distell’s diverse and globally traded range extends from premium brands such as Nederburg, Durbanville Hills, Fleur du Cap and Alto (which, amongst others, now form part of Distell’s new premium wine company, Libertas Vineyards & Estates), all the way through to more mainstream offerings such as 4thStreet, Two Oceans and Drostdy Hof. ‘Andrea will be carefully looking after our wine brands from a top-line perspective, managing all aspects of winemaking by working hand-in-hand with our talented winemakers and viticulturists,’ says Johan Venter, who heads up Distell’s Centre of Excellence: Intrinsic, and to whom she will be reporting in her new role. ‘With her impressive qualifications, excellent sensorial instinct, and close to two decades of successful winemaking experience under the belt, Andrea has certainly proven her ability to lead topperforming teams, to innovate and experiment, and to simultaneously create specialty wines and those aimed at broad appeal. ‘This makes her ideally placed for the role of Distell head winemaker. We are confident that with Andrea’s solid track record in running a cellar, making wine, and dealing with a multitude of people, processes and departments, she will provide outstanding direction and inspiration to our wine brands.’ Armed with BSc Hons degrees in viticulture and oenology from the University of Stellenbosch, Freeborough’s working life began as an assistant winemaker at Neethlingshof in Stellenbosch. Less than three years later she was appointed a fully-fledged winemaker, working under Nederburg cellar-master Razvan Macici, producing the whites. Obviously with great proficiency, because four-anda-half years later, still in her very early 30s, she was appointed to head Distell’s Die Bergkelder, a job she held for a decade before returning to Nederburg to take over from Macici in 2015.
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May 2019 | Full Serv ce
Glenelly unveils elegant and complex 2013 vintages Glenelly, the Stellenbosch wine estate with a French touch, located on the southern slopes of the Simonsberg, have released the 2013 vintages of their flagship Lady May Cabernet Sauvignon and its Estate Reserve Signature Red Blend. ‘We are very excited about our 2013 releases. After the 2012 vintage, which was very hot, delivering big robust wines, the cooler conditions in 2013 have produced extremely elegant wines with complex aromatics, beautiful fruit and freshness and great balance. This is a vintage that will certainly reward cellaring patience with added depth, nuance and complexity, ageing beautifully for a minimum of seven to 10 years and bringing pleasure to wine collectors even after 20 years of ageing in the bottle,’ says winemaker Luke O’Cuinneagain.
GLENELLY LADY MAY
Enjoy: 2019 - 2030 Retail price: Lady May 2013 can be purchased online at www.glenelly.co.za and is available nationwide at specialist wine merchants. Recommended retail price: R520.
GLENELLY ESTATE RESERVE RED 2013 The Estate Reserve is Glenelly’s signature red blend with long ageing potential made from the estate’s finest parcels of vines. The label depicts a panoramic landscape view of Glenelly to convey a real sense of place and focus on terroir. The 2013 vintage is a blend of 47 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 23 percent Merlot, 15 percent Syrah, 11 percent Cabernet Franc and four percent Petit Verdot. This is the first vintage with a Cabernet Franc component in the blend, adding freshness and longevity. The 2013 vintage is all about elegance with underlying power. Bold aromatics of blackberries, cranberry and blackcurrant are followed by hints of savoury, spicy plum with touches of cedar and floral tones. The palate entry has good richness with fine tannin supported by the ripe fresh fruit and hints of spice. Very balanced oak integration with a fresh long finish.
Glenelly was established in 2003 by worldrenowned Bordeaux winemaker, Madame May de Lencquesaing, with a clear vision to produce wines of great elegance and exceptional ageing ability and the vintage is named for her. It is crafted predominantly from a single Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard planted on a cool east-facing slope, with a dash of other Bordeaux varieties. Taking after its owner, the wine is elegant, distinguished and venerable. Glenelly Enjoy: 2019 - 2030 have produced several highly-acclaimed vintages Retail price: The Glenelly Estate Reserve Red of Lady May, reaping prestigious awards, retails nationally at approximately R245. including a pinnacle five-star rating for the 2009 vintage in Platter’s wine guide. SUGGESTED FOOD The Lady May 2013 is a blend PAIRINGS Glenelly Estate of 85 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, Christophe Dehosse, Reserve seven percent Cabernet Franc, chef patron at The Red Blend four percent Petit Verdot and Vine Bistro at Glenelly four percent Merlot. This is the recommends enjoying second vintage of Lady May the 2013 vintages of Glenelly Lady May that comprises a Cabernet Franc the flagship Lady May component, adding distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon and freshness and longevity to the Estate Reserve the wine. Signature Red Blend It is an intense, deeply with the following coloured wine. Elegant and dishes which feature complex with a big but classic regularly on our menu: structure, it offers alluring • Cape Wagyu flat invitation to dark-fruited, iron steak, fondant richly-tannined depths. potatoes, grilled baby Fresh blackberry, cassis, dark marrow and a shallot cherry and spicy plum notes sauce perfectly combine with dense, • Springbok loin, age-worthy tannins. Refined celeriac mousseline, broad with distinct minerality and bean and a red wine sauce underlying fruit power, the wine • Braised pork cheeks, is fresh, stylish and subtle, with a roast root vegetables and a long, layered finish. thyme jus
