He left his accounting career in Durban to become a winemaker. In 1983, Gyles Webb, with the help of his wife's family, the McLean's, purchased Thelema. The estate was restored, and the first wines under the Thelema label were released in 1988. By the mid-1990s, Thelema wines were selling out within a month of release, making it one of the most sought-after wine estates in South Africa. The Webb family describes Thelema as "one of the most beautiful places on earth."
While Thelema continued to thrive in Stellenbosch, Gyles began searching for additional property to establish a second vineyard. In 2002, the Webb family purchased an idyllic farm with rolling hills in the cool Elgin region, creating ideal grape-growing conditions.
The grapes for this Rabelais are harvested and sorted by hand. They are then crushed and pumped into stainless steel fermentation tanks. After fermentation, the wine is left on the skins for two days before pressing. Once pressed, the barrel is racked. Finally, the wine is aged for twenty months in 80 percent new French oak barrels.
The Rabelais Bordeaux blend is an epic rendition of this classic Cape wine. Extremely dark, dense, and almost overwhelming, it graces the nose with intense and concentrated aromas of dark berry fruit, a hint of mocha, and fragrant cedarwood, while nuances of sweet fruit on the palate, refined tannins, and a lingering, refined finish deliver perfect enjoyment! Thelema Rabelais is an absolutely sensational Bordeaux blend made from the finest grapes of the respective vintage. Individual barrels were identified whose juice was deemed worthy of the Rabelais name.
