Thelema Rabelais 2021
6 pack box set

97 POINTS - TIM ATKIN SOUTH AFRICA SPECIAL REPORT 2023

Francois Rabelais was a sixteenth – century French writer. His first novel describes an abbey on the banks of the Loire named Thélème where only one rule was observed: “Do what thou wilt!” Thelema is family run and has been making wine since 1988. The finest red wine of the vintage, blended from Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, honours the man who gave us our name.

Food Pairing

Pair this captivating Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot blend with a succulent grilled ribeye steak.

Winemaker's Comments

Indulge in the rich symphony of flavours offered by this exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot blend. A full-bodied marvel, it opens with a harmonious dance of dark berries, cassis, and plums, layering velvety textures with hints of vanilla and cedar. The elegant marriage of Cabernet’s structural finesse and Petit Verdot’s opulent depth creates a tapestry of ripe tannins and balanced acidity, culminating in a long, graceful finish that leaves lingering impressions of black cherry and a touch of tobacco. This blend epitomizes the art of complexity and refinement, inviting you to savour every nuance with each sumptuous sip.

All Vintages

R4 800.00

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Tasting Notes

Viticultural Practices

Varietal	Cabernet Sauvignon - CS 338C & CS 169A / Petit Verdot - Clone PV 219A
Root stock	101-14 and R99
Soil type	Hutton – decomposed granite
Age of vines	Planted 2002 and 2003
Plant density	2000 and 2110 vines per hectare respectively
Trellising	Vertical hedge
Pruning	2-bud spurs every 12cm
Yield	8.5 t/ha (Cabernet Sauvignon) / 9.3 t/ha (Petit Verdot)
Irrigation	Supplementary drip
Vintage	A warm, dry vintage with a late start, resulted in smaller tonnage but yielding balanced, well-structured wines with lovely intensity.
Picking date	24 - 26 March 2021
Grape sugar	24.5°B - 25.2°B
Acidity	5.28 - 6.17
pH at harvest	3.5

Winemaking Practices

Yeasts	Alchemy 4
Fermentation temp	26 -27 °C
Method	De-stalked, hand sorted, whole berries pumped into stainless steel fermentation tanks and pumped over twice a day until dry. After fermentation the wine is left on the skins for 12 hours before pressing, once pressed wine is racked to barrel for malolactic fermentation.
Wood Maturation	18 months in 76% new 225 L French oak barrels

Wine Details

Residual Sugar	2.0 g/l
pH	3.43
Total acid	6.43 g/l
Alcohol	14.5 %
Blend	Cabernet Sauvignon 90% and Petit Verdot 10%

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The Current Range

Thelema Cap Classique 2017

92 POINTS - TIM ATKIN SOUTH AFRICA SPECIAL REPORT 2023

Thelema Rabelais 2021 6 pack box set