Description
The Thelema Mountain Red 2022 is a beautifully balanced Stellenbosch blend that captures both the vibrancy of its fruit and the structure gained through thoughtful oak maturation. Crafted from a Rhône-inspired combination of Shiraz, Grenache, and Petit Verdot, this wine reflects the character of vineyards grown on the slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain.
The nose opens with expressive aromas of dark berries, ripe cherry, and subtle peppery spice, offering both freshness and depth. On the palate, the wine is smooth, layered, and medium-bodied, with generous fruit supported by gentle, well-integrated tannins. After 18 months in barrel, the texture is refined and balanced, leading to a persistent, flavorful finish that lingers with notes of spice and ripe fruit.
Approachable yet structured, this is a versatile red that pairs effortlessly with pizza, grilled meats, braai dishes, and light to medium-bodied fare.
The nose opens with expressive aromas of dark berries, ripe cherry, and subtle peppery spice, offering both freshness and depth. On the palate, the wine is smooth, layered, and medium-bodied, with generous fruit supported by gentle, well-integrated tannins. After 18 months in barrel, the texture is refined and balanced, leading to a persistent, flavorful finish that lingers with notes of spice and ripe fruit.
Approachable yet structured, this is a versatile red that pairs effortlessly with pizza, grilled meats, braai dishes, and light to medium-bodied fare.
The grapes were harvested from vineyards rooted in Tukulu and Glenrosa soils, benefiting from a cooler, wetter growing season that allowed for slow, even ripening and excellent flavor development. After harvesting, the fruit was destemmed, crushed, and fermented in stainless steel tanks, with pump-overs performed twice daily to gently extract color, flavor, and tannin.
The wine underwent malolactic fermentation to soften its structure before being matured for 18 months in older French oak barrels, allowing for subtle oak integration while preserving fruit purity and balance.
Winemaker: Thomas Webb
The wine underwent malolactic fermentation to soften its structure before being matured for 18 months in older French oak barrels, allowing for subtle oak integration while preserving fruit purity and balance.
Winemaker: Thomas Webb
Thelema, situated on the spectacular Helshoogte Pass in Stellenbosch, is a family owned and managed wine estate and the home of Thelema and Sutherland Vineyards wines. Gyles Webb bought Thelema, a charming dilapidated fruit farm, in 1983 with the help of his wife’s family.
Fruit orchards were pulled out and vines were planted. The manor house was restored and the first wines under the Thelema label were released in 1988. The ripe pure-fruited wines were a revelation to many and it wasn’t long before the romantic tale of a run-down old fruit farm became the success story of an avant-garde winery.
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 high altitude and the deep red soils are ideal for premium quality wine grape production. They do not buy in any grapes and all wines are bottled on the estate to maintain absolute control over every aspect of the wine production. The terroir in combination with Gyles Webb’s winemaking style results in flavorful, flamboyant, complex and long-lasting wines with a distinctive South African character.
In 2000, Gyles moved into the role of cellar master and handed over the winemaking duties to the talented Rudi Schultz (one of the famous Schultz winemaking brothers). We hope you enjoy our wines and it would be a pleasure to welcome you at Thelema for a chat and a taste of our latest release.
Fruit orchards were pulled out and vines were planted. The manor house was restored and the first wines under the Thelema label were released in 1988. The ripe pure-fruited wines were a revelation to many and it wasn’t long before the romantic tale of a run-down old fruit farm became the success story of an avant-garde winery.
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 high altitude and the deep red soils are ideal for premium quality wine grape production. They do not buy in any grapes and all wines are bottled on the estate to maintain absolute control over every aspect of the wine production. The terroir in combination with Gyles Webb’s winemaking style results in flavorful, flamboyant, complex and long-lasting wines with a distinctive South African character.
In 2000, Gyles moved into the role of cellar master and handed over the winemaking duties to the talented Rudi Schultz (one of the famous Schultz winemaking brothers). We hope you enjoy our wines and it would be a pleasure to welcome you at Thelema for a chat and a taste of our latest release.
