Banele Vakele is creating some of the most exciting wines in SA. Now in its fifth release, Tembela – named after his late mother – translates from isiXhosa to ‘faith’, ‘hope’ and ‘belief’. If his wines are not on your radar yet, you’re missing out.
Having worked alongside Duncan Savage for the past 6 years, Banele has learned a thing or two about making great wine. Every year his Tembela wines sell out on release. We’ve been lucky enough to secure a small parcel – tuck in while you can.
The 2024 Chenin Blanc is a striking rendition of Stellenbosch Chenin, gaining a well-deserved 94 points from Christian Eedes. A real sunshine kind of wine, it’s packed with layers of flavour – think dried pineapple, white florals and peaches. It continues to unfurl and impress as you come back to the glass, with texture and savoury nuances on the finish.
The 95-point 2024 Syrah is ‘a bold, unapologetic expression of the variety,’ notes Christian Eedes, blending grapes from the Polkadraai Hills with 20% Swartland fruit for extra gravitas. If you love the olive tapenade and dark fruit profile of a Swartland Syrah with the juicy red fruit and fine-grained tannins that Stellenbosch Syrah brings, you’ll find this hugely pleasurable.
Tasting Notes:
Tembela Wines Chenin Blanc 2024
‘Grapes from Bottelary. Fermented and matured for 10 months in older 500-litre barrels. The nose is subdued but not unbecoming with notes of peach, melon and just a touch of leesy complexity. There’s ample side-palate presence, the wine luscious but not overdone – acidity is moderate, the finish gently savoury. The winemaker speaks of it as “splashy” (relative to 2023) and that’s a nice description. Alc: 13.5%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100
‘80% Polkadraai Hills, 20% Paardeberg. Approximately 80% whole-bunch fermentation before maturation lasting 10 months in older 500-litre barrels. Flinty reduction, dark berries, hints of olive and fynbos, and a marked pepperiness. Good fruit density, punchy acidity and firm but not coarse tannins, the finish ultra-dry. More “oomph” than ever before – a bold, unapologetic expression of the variety. Alc: 14%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100
