May de Lencquesaing celebrates 100 years with release of Glenelly Lady May 2020 vintage

May de Lencquesaing, a prominent figure in the world of fine wine, has marked her 100th birthday. The milestone was celebrated with the release of the 2020 vintage of Glenelly’s flagship Bordeaux-style blend, Lady May. The wine is described by the estate as reflecting de Lencquesaing’s approach to winemaking, characterized by precision, power, and elegance. The release pays tribute to her century-long journey in wine, which includes three decades leading Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac.

Born in 1925, May de Lencquesaing is the daughter of Edouard Miailhe and grew up in one of Bordeaux’s most established wine families. Her family’s involvement in the region dates back to the 18th century and includes ownership or shares in several notable Médoc estates such as Châteaux Pichon Lalande, Palmer, Siran, Dauzac, and Coufran. However, her early years were shaped by hardship. Bordeaux suffered during the Great Depression, with even its best vintages losing much of their value. The situation worsened during World War II when the region fell under Nazi occupation. The Miailhe family sheltered two Jewish families at Château Palmer before German forces seized the estate. Edouard Miailhe and his brother later escaped to Argentina via Bayonne, leaving a lasting impression on May during her teenage years.

These experiences influenced de Lencquesaing’s outlook and leadership style. She has spoken about her commitment to positivity and creativity, always seeking ways to improve her surroundings. After the war, she spent time in Tuscany and later lived in Kansas with her husband, Hervé Jacques-Albéric de Lencquesaing, a French army general.

It was not until 1978, when she inherited Château Pichon Lalande in her fifties, that de Lencquesaing began to make her mark on the wine industry. At a time when few women held leadership roles in Bordeaux, she modernized the financially struggling estate. She restructured winemaking practices and introduced a higher proportion of Merlot into blends traditionally dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. This move set Pichon Lalande apart from neighboring Pauillac estates and led to acclaimed vintages such as 1982 and 1983. By the 1990s, Pichon Lalande had become recognized as a benchmark among Bordeaux’s “Super Seconds,” producing wines that rivaled First Growths in both quality and price.

In 2003, at age 78, de Lencquesaing surprised many by purchasing Glenelly Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The 123-hectare property on Simonsberg Mountain had previously been a fruit farm. Her decision followed a visit to South Africa in the mid-1990s with wine critic Michael Fridjhon. She saw similarities between Stellenbosch’s granite-rich soils and maritime climate and those of Bordeaux. Advised by Dr. Anton Rupert to invest in Stellenbosch if she entered South Africa’s wine industry, de Lencquesaing aimed not to replicate Bordeaux but to create something new with shared values.

After selling Pichon Lalande to Louis Roederer in 2007, she focused on planting Bordeaux varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc—at Glenelly. Her goal was to produce wines with structure and aging potential.

The Lady May 2020 vintage is being highlighted as a reflection of de Lencquesaing’s resilience. The growing season was marked by droughts, erratic temperatures, and challenges from Covid-19 lockdowns during harvest. Despite these difficulties, Glenelly’s now two-decade-old vines produced fruit with notable intensity and structure. Winemaker Dirk van Zyl described Lady May 2020 as one of the most intricate wines from the estate—a Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend with increased Cabernet Franc for aromatic lift, Petit Verdot for depth, and Merlot for roundness on the palate. The wine was aged for two years in French oak barrels followed by three years in bottle before release—a Gran Reserva-style approach rarely seen in South Africa.

Since 2020, Glenelly Estate has been managed by Nicolas Bureau, one of de Lencquesaing’s ten grandchildren. He previously oversaw exports for Glenelly before taking over operations at the estate.

May de Lencquesaing’s centenary is being recognized across the wine world as a celebration of her enduring influence on both Bordeaux and South African wine industries. Her legacy continues through Glenelly Estate and through her family’s ongoing involvement in winemaking.