OF THE TOP 50 cellars in South Africa with super-premium, luxury red wines presented as their numero uno at thousands of rand per bottle, there’s the Rijk’s 888 Gold Pinotage at R1100, Mvemve Raats De Compostella blend at R1150, the Hanneli R blend from La Motte at R1200, Vergelegen V Cabernet Sauvignon at R1395, The Garland Cabernet Sauvignon from Simonsig at R1450, Eden Cabernet Franc from Raats at R1500, Kanonkop Black Label Pinotage at R1750, Delaire Graff’s Laurence Graff Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon at R3750, and, launched mid-2018 at R4200 a bottle, the Telos blend from Tokara!

With Cabernet Sauvignon (92%) playing the leading role, supported by Malbec (5%) and Merlot (3%), Telos 2015 is touted as the very best from GT Ferreira’s farm off the Helshoogte Pass on the slopes of the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch – more exclusive than Tokara Director’s Reserve, one of the country’s Top 10 red blends and in the Top Wine SA Hall of Fame.

For those who aren’t familiar with the Greek term, Telos translates as: end, purpose or goal – an ultimate object(ive) or aim.

The Cabernet vines were 17 years old at the time of the 2015 harvest, which involved ‘Normalised Difference Vegetation Index’ images to assist in picking areas of homogenous ripening… Basket press. Natural fermentation (indigenous yeasts). 22 months in French oak barrels (63% new). Only 1000 bottles.

Alc 14 | R/S 2.1 | TA 6.2 | pH 3.5

Producer’s Tasting Notes: great precision and intensity; complexity, exceptional balance, well-defined structure; will reward patient cellaring while offering endless enjoyment in its youth.

Tokara: one of the Top 20 Cellars in South Africa