Prestigious Family Wineries
Live Virtual Auction, 23 July 2023
Prestigious family wineries | Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Raats Family Wines and Savage Wines
About this Item
Thelema, the Greek word for ‘will’, was a charming dilapidated fruit farm until Gyles Webb came along and purchased the farm with the help of his wife’s family in 1983. Placed at the top of the Helshoogte Pass, Thelema is one of the highest and coolest estates in the area, its deep red soils make it ideal for premium quality wine grape production. At a time when the South African wine scene was focused on quantity rather than quality, Webb was a trailblazing pioneer on a mission to craft world-class wines. Construction began on the winery in 1987, and Thelema produced its first vintage in 1988. Winemaking since 2000 has been in the capable hands of Rudi Schultz, with Gyles's son Thomas involved in running the business.
Rabelais is a blend of the best Bordeaux components within the Thelema range from the 2010 vintage. During the annual vintage review individual barrels are identified and earmarked for the Rabelais blend, which is complex, elegant and structured.
Critics Ratings
‘Darkly brooding 2010, mainly cab with 14% petit verdot; naturally fermented, 80% new oak. Intoxicating mix of cassis & perfume on the nose giving way to ripe (never jammy) blackberries, some tar, cedar & heady spices. Wrapped up in velvety tannins, a wine fit for the grandest occasions.’ – Platter’s Guide SA Wine Guide, 5* (2015)
'86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Petit Verdot. Wonderfully engaging aromas of red and black fruit, the leafy note so typical of this farm present but subtle and entirely likeable, violets, pencil shavings and some milk chocolate. Excellent flavour intensity, bright acidity and fine tannins – extremely well balanced and lovely length. One of the most confident and sophisticated Bordeaux-style reds tasted in a long time.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100
‘The 2010 Rabelais is a Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot blend, 86% and 14% respectively, the fruit entirely destemmed and aged for 20 months in 80% new French oak barrels. It has a well-defined, very Bordeaux-like bouquet with cedar-infused, earthy black fruit that unfold in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, well-judged acidity and a sense of focus and linearity on the finish. This is a well-crafted Cabernet with breeding and perhaps more classicism than The Mint.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 90/100 (Oct 2014)
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