{"id":55753,"date":"2014-04-02T00:13:59","date_gmt":"2014-04-01T22:13:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=55753"},"modified":"2014-04-02T00:13:59","modified_gmt":"2014-04-01T22:13:59","slug":"thelema-wines-to-sparkle-with-new-mcc-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/thelema-wines-to-sparkle-with-new-mcc-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Thelema Wines to sparkle with new MCC this year!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Thelema<\/a>Thelema hosted a tasting of its Thelema and Sutherland brand wines for hotel and restaurant staff as well as writers at Dear Me in the city centre yesterday. \u00a0At the tasting it was announced that a Thelema MCC will be launched later this year.<\/p>\n

We were welcomed with a glass of 1994 MCC, a once-off production, which had been made for a family wedding. \u00a0It was disgorged three years ago. Thelema was bought by Gyles Webb in 1983, then a 157 ha fruit farm. It is one of the highest and coolest wine estates in the area. \u00a0The first wines were produced in 1988. The Thelema Family Trust bought the 100 ha Sutherland farm\"Thelema<\/a> in Elgin in 2002, and half of the apple orchards were replaced with vines. \u00a0The Sutherland wines are slower to ripen, being grown in the cooler climate Elgin, have more minerality, are more approachable, and can be drunk sooner. They are made at Thelema’s cellar in Stellenbosch. \u00a0Rudi Schultz has been the winemaker since 2000, with Webb the Cellarmaster. Thelema is particularly well-known for its Cabernet Sauvignon.<\/p>\n

Three tables offered tastings of wines:<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 \"Thelema<\/a>Thelema’s current vintages of Sauvignon Blanc 2013 (R75), Chardonnay 2012 (R110), Rhine Riesling 2011 (R65), Muscat de Frontignan 2013 (R55), Mountain Red 2011 (R65), Merlot 2010 (15% alcohol, full bodied, black currant, R130), Merlot Reserve 2010 (R225), Shiraz 2011 (18 months in French oak, 15 % alcohol, spicy and peppery, R130), Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 (R185), and The Mint Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (R225).<\/p>\n

* \u00a0 Sutherland’s current vintages of Sauvignon Blanc 2013 (R70), Chardonnay 2011 (R90), Viognier-Roussanne 2011 (R90), Rhine Riesling 2012 (R65), Pinot Noir 2012 (R110), Syrah 2009 (with fynbos on the nose, \"Thelema<\/a>18 months in the barrel, lean, and more delicate, R100), and Cabernet Sauvignon Petit Verdot 2010 (a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, R100).<\/p>\n

* \u00a0Vintage Thelema wines, which included a 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (very limited stock, R332.26 per bottle): Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (R249,63); Riesling 2009 (R60,50); Chardonnay 2006 (R150,58); and an excellent 2007 Shiraz, which won Best Red Wine at the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show in 2011 (R146,41).<\/p>\n

\"Thelema<\/a>The wines were accompanied by a large platter of charcuterie and cheeses, and artisan breads, prepared by Dear Me Chef Vanessa Marx.<\/p>\n

Thelema Mountain Vineyards,<\/strong> Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch. Tel (021) 885-1924. www.thelema.co.za<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0Twitter: @ThelemaWines<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com<\/strong><\/a> \u00a0Twitter: @WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thelema hosted a tasting of its Thelema and Sutherland brand wines for hotel and restaurant staff as well as writers at Dear Me in the city centre yesterday. \u00a0At the tasting it was announced that a Thelema MCC will be launched later this year. We were welcomed with a glass of 1994 MCC, a once-off […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,1918,20,31,21,19,293],"tags":[32378,10812,32379,24626,10438,7408,24628,32376,11843,403,24627,10816,3427,32373],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t