South Africa take a unique stand on Syrah, dispensing with the binary of old or new world and instead straddles the fine line between both, marrying a traditional approach with modern oenological innovation, putting forth a style it calls its own. And nowhere does this style shine brighter than the Western Cape star region of Stellenbosch. Thelema's superb Stellenbosch red is a fine exemplar of the region's distinct style. Thelema Mountain Vineyards's owner cum winemaker Gyles Webb has vinified a sumptuous wine containing fruit from elevated vineyard, expressing rich notes of blackberry, plum and vanilla, laced with spice and cocoa, capped with splendid tannic length. Hardly surprising then that Thelema's wines have twice found mention in Wine Spectator's Top 100 wines of the world and no doubt be back on that list soon enough.