($30, Cape Classics): Rudi Schultz is best known as the talented winemaker at Thelema, a producer known for their stellar Cabernet Sauvignon.  He also makes a small amount of wine–this excellent Syrah–under his own name.  It’s a marvelous combination of both the ripe, plummy side of Syrah as well as the peppery notes that it can show.  Hints of bacon fat add to its overall appeal.  It has great intensity without being overblown or over-the-top.  A delight to drink now, its balance suggests it will evolve nicely with bottle age. 91 Michael Apstein May 5, 2009