5 Stars 2022 Platter’s South African Wine Guide

Polished, graceful Bordeaux red, 2 years in 75% new oak. 80% cab in 16 (95 pts), noticeably opulent, with brooding blackcurrant, mulberry in complex harmony with earth, graphite & crushed herbs. Collector’s item – decant for now.

95+ pts Greg Sherwood MW August 2022

The 2016 blend throws a particularly dark, opaque red/black colour in the glass. Dark and foreboding but also ever so inviting at the same time. The aromatics are quite defined with perhaps the Cabernet Franc component currently punching way above its weight of 6% with seductive notes of freshly shaved cedar lead pencil spice, graphite, iron filings, iodine and the now hallmark Lady May character of dark, black, menthol cassis and peppermint crisp milk chocolate nuances. The palate is wonderfully suave and sleek, creamy and mouth coating with an accessibility and generosity of black and blueberry fruits that is very comforting and familiar. But just when you think the mouthfeel is all about silky tannins and fleshy black fruit concentration, the delicious tangy acids kick in to land this Hercules of a wine cleanly and effortlessly on the runway without even a hiccup. Like so many 2016 super-premium Cape Bordeaux blends from Stellenbosch, this wine thrills, seduces the senses and certainly impresses for the vintage. Drink from release or cellar for 10 to 15 years.

94 pts Tim Atkin MW 2021

“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 bit 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.

91 pts Vinous July 2021

The 2016 Lady May has a very high-toned 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.