Prestigious Family Wineries
Live Virtual Auction, 23 July 2023
Prestigious family wineries | Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Raats Family Wines and Savage Wines
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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.
The mint-laced section of the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon has been produced separately since 2004 and has received a cult following since.
Critics Ratings
'Distinctive character (& name) from 24-yr-old single-clone vineyard. Serious 07 built for cellaring: dense black fruit, lots of freshness & substantial tannins, evident wood from 20 months cask, 45% new. Riper vintage not as minty as standout 06.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2010, 4.5*
‘Gorgeous mint and warm coffee aromas give way to a plush, stylish core of black currant, melted fig and açaí berry flavors. Roasted vanilla, loam and black tea notes weave through the finish. Seamless, complex and long. Drink now through 2015.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 92/100 (Apr 2010)
‘Bright medium ruby. Cassis, licorice and eucalyptus on the nose. Supple, sweet and lush but dominated by cassis fruit today; loads of early appeal here but not yet showing its complexity. Less minty in the mouth than some earlier vintages of this wine. Finishes broad and sweet, with surprisingly suave tannins and a late note of licorice.’ - Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, 91/100 (Mar 2011)
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