Thelema Rabelais 2021

De-stalked, hand sorted, whole berries pumped into stainless steel fermentation tanks and pumped over twice a day until dry. After fermentation the wine is left on the skins for 12 hours before pressing, once pressed wine is racked to barrel for malolactic fermentation. 18 months in 100% new 225 L French oak barrels.

Moderate weather during the growing season lead to optimal ripening conditions allowing for evenly ripened fruit with great natural acidity and concentration of flavour.

Made to be enjoyed now, however, can be aged for 12 to 15 years from vintage if stored in the correct conditions.

Cabernet Sauvignon 90 % and Petit Verdot 10 %

This complex and full-bodied wine complements beef and game dishes.

5 STARS - PLATTER'S WINE GUIDE 2023

97 / 100 - Tim Atkin 2023

Gyles Webb abandoned his accounting career in Durban to become a winemaker. In 1983, with the help of his wife’s family, the McLean’s, Gyles bought Thelema. The beginning of a family legacy. The manor house was restored and the first wines under the Thelema label were released in 1988. By the mid 90’s Thelema’s wines sold out within a month after release, making it one of the most sought-after wine estates in South Africa. The Webb family describe Thelema as “one of the most beautiful places on earth”. As Thelema in Stellenbosch continued to flourish, Gyles embarked on a search for an additional property in order to establish a second vineyard. In 2002, the Webb family purchased an idyllic farm with an undulating landscape, in the cool Elgin region, creating ideal grape growing conditions.