2024 Thelema - Mountain White Stellenbosch (750ml)

Thelema Mountain Vineyards sits on the Helshoogte Pass in Stellenbosch, on the southeastern slopes of the Simonsberg mountain. Gyles Webb, an accountant by training, gave up his career after a memorable taste of Burgundy Puligny-Montrachet, purchasing the run down fruit farm with his wife Barbara in 1983 and replacing the old orchards with vines. The manor house was restored and the first wines under the Thelema label were released in 1988, quickly earning a devoted following that saw new vintages sell out within a month of release by the mid 1990s. Today Rudi Schultz and Duncan Clarke lead winemaking, continuing Webb's minimal intervention approach across the estate's forty two hectares.

Mountain White is a blend built around Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier, two varieties chosen for the balance they strike together. The Viognier lends weight and volume to the wine, while the Sauvignon Blanc contributes freshness and bright acidity, resulting in a cuvee that feels both textured and lively. The estate's high altitude vineyards, among the coolest sites in Stellenbosch, allow for a longer ripening period that helps preserve natural acidity even as the fruit develops complexity and depth.

This white opens with an intense burst of tropical fruit aromatics, showing pineapple, ripe peach, and a hint of vanilla. On the palate it turns medium bodied and soft, finishing with a touch of spicy acidity that keeps things bright through to the end. It pairs beautifully with goat cheese, fresh oysters, or delicate white fish like sole.