South African & International Fine Wine
Live Auction, 14 September 2019
Session Two
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.
Thelema is renowned for making some of SA’s best Merlot’s and this cool 1997 vintage is at fully maturity.
Provenance
Wine Cellar
Critics Ratings
‘An altogether different kind of hedonism is captured in Webb’s “other red”, in spite of the fact that the terroir of these v’yds seems to blur identities of merlot and cab. And confer on both the Thelema thumb-print: ripe berry bouquet; fleshy, luscious palate; warm balanced finish. Barrel sample 97 promises too, some grassy and venison hints.’ – Platter’s SA Wine Guide (2000)
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