This wine is a limited release of the finest Merlot of the vintage. On the nose, ripe cherries, succulent raspberries, and delicate blackcurrant notes intertwine elegantly with hints of cedar, sandalwood, and baking spices. The palate offers a symphony of red fruit flavours, led by strawberries and black cherries, balanced by refined acidity, velvety tannins, and subtle minerality. This Merlot exemplifies elegance and balance, offering a sophisticated yet approachable expression.

The grapes are de-stalked, hand sorted, the whole berries are pumped into stainless steel fermentation.Tanks, inoculated with a cultured yeast and pumped over once a day until the desired level of colour and tannin extraction has been achieved. After fermentation the wine is pressed and racked to barrel for malolactic fermentation.  18 months in 51% new French oak barrels

Food Pairing: Perfect for pairing with dishes like seared duck breast, mushroom risotto, or aged Gruyère.

Thelema's brilliant Reserve Merlot uses the French 343 and the Italian 192 clones to produce this dense, fleshy, world class red from the slopes of the Simonsberg. Mint, cut grass and pencil shaving aromas segue into a palate of plum, black cherry and dark chocolate and palate-caressing tannins. A wine that ages well too. 2024-32. Tim Atkin 95