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Fillioux Cellars |
One can pretty easily characterize South African wine. They have been at it there since the 1600’s. Last week tasters got a feeling for the character of the finest South African wine as well as the character of the finest in South African people. Thomas Webb led tasters through the wines of Thelema, his estate in Stellenbosch, with an understated flair and humility as well as a finely turned sense of humor.
The first wine was actually from a new project for Thelema in Elgin. The 2007 Thelema Sutherland Sauvignon Blanc was very forward and attractive with balanced flavors and a long finish. Tasters loved it. This was slightly unfair for the 2007 Thelema Sauvignon Blanc from Stellenbosch. Though the wine was equally fine, it’s character was more subtle and restrained with a more pronounced minerality.
The 2006 Thelema Chardonnay surprised some tasters who were perhaps expecting something a bit fatter. The wine was instead slender and slightly racy, with a touch of spice and a subtle creamy texture.
The 2005 Thelema Merlot turned out to be the ripest and most forward of the reds. Still, tasters thought the wine could use a few years in the cellar. There was plenty of fruit and plenty of structure. One person commented that we were now in serious wine territory.
We followed with the 2005 Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine was a bit closed on the nose and showed cedar, chocolate and currant on the palate. The fruit and the structure are not yet fully integrated and this wine was also asking for some cellaring. I thought it to be as good as a much more expensive California Cabernet. On to the Syrah, which even Thomas said was so different from the other two reds it was difficult to decide where it should be placed in the tasting. No worries though, the wine was just fine where it was. Meaty, peppery aromas jumped out of the glass and tasters found the wine to be leaning more toward an old world style.
White
| 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Sutherland
(Elgin) "cooler, more ethereal quality than Stellenbosch Highly expressive , perfectly poised with exquisite cassis notes to nettle/greengage profile, delicate yet thrilling finish." |
$19.99 |
$17.99 |
$16.99 |
| 2007 Sauvignon Blanc
(Stellenbosch) "Thrilling wet stone nuance to green-toned bouquet & blackberry leaf palate. Rapier acidity pierces ripe fruit core, precedes steely. persisitent finish. Certainly one of sauvignon fans" |
$21 |
$18.90 |
$17.85 |
| 2005 Chardonnay
"relatively slender, but well formed, lovely food wine,; nutty & spicy, lemon cream highlights, palate cleaning acidity - fermented 11 month in French oak" |
$26.99 |
$24.29 |
$22.94 |
Red
| 2005 Merlot
"very ripe, opulent seductive on nose; palate less so, tauter, given form, direction by tight tannins Deserving of 3 - 8 years cellaring"
Very Good - Excellent |
$31.99 |
$28.79 |
$27.19 |
| 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Aroma: deep chocolate, very thick, opulent & effusively aromatic; Mouth: chewy chocolate, rich very chewy fruit, sweet & rich around the edge, clean strong fine tannins;
Very Good - Excellent |
$44.99 |
$40.49 |
$38.24 |
| 2005 Shiraz
not tasted yet |
$37.99 |
$34.19 |
$32.29 |
Thelema Tasting Case: Two bottles of each of the above wines for a special price of $312
Thelema Six Pack: One bottle of each of the above wines for a special price of: $165
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