Tembela Wines new releases

Banele Vakele of Tembela Wines.

Banele Vakele, assistant to the acclaimed Duncan Savage since 2019, also makes his own wines under the Tembela label. Tasting notes and ratings for the new releases as follows:

Tembela Verdelho 2022
Price: R250
From Stellenbosch grapes. Includes just under 10% Semillon. Matured for 13 months in an old 600-litre barrel. Complex aromatics of pear, peach, lime, lemon and pineapple with notes of dried herbs and blossom in the background. Pure fruit and arresting acidity before a bone-dry finish. Linear without being skeletal. Alcohol: 13%.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Tembela Syrah 2022
Price: R272
From Polkadraai Hills grapes. 40% stems added back at fermentation. Red and black berries plus hints of rose and white pepper on the nose. The palate has good clarity of fruit, bright acidity and fine tannins, the finish nicely dry. A wine that comes across as light and pretty, alcohol a modest 13%.

CE’s rating: 90/100.

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