Thelema Rabelais 2022 [Single Gift Box]
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
A powerful yet polished blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The 2022 vintage shows concentrated aromas of blackcurrant, ripe plum, and blueberries, complemented by notes of graphite, cedar, and subtle spice. The palate is bold and layered, with fine-grained tannins and integrated oak contributing to a firm structure. A long, elegant finish with lingering dark fruit and savoury depth.
All Vintages
R950.00
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 | 9.8 t/ha (Cabernet Sauvignon) / 7.9 t/ha (Petit Verdot) |
| Irrigation | Supplementary drip |
| Vintage | Warm and dry conditions during the 2022 growing season resulted in a slightly earlier harvest. The grapes ripened evenly, producing fruit with excellent concentration, balance, and freshness. |
| Picking date | 11 - 15 March 2022 |
| Grape sugar | 24.4°B - 24.6°B |
| Acidity | 5.0 - 5.5 |
| pH at harvest | 3.4 - 3.6 |
Winemaking Practices
| Yeasts | Alchemy4 |
|---|---|
| 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 75% new 225 L French oak barrels |
Wine Details
| Residual Sugar | 2.2 g/l |
|---|---|
| pH | 3.53 |
| Total acid | 5.7 g/l |
| Alcohol | 14 % |
| Blend | Cabernet Sauvignon 90 % and Petit Verdot 10 % |
The Current Range
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Thelema Rabelais 2022 [Single Gift Box]
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Thelema Rabelais 2022
3 pack box set
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Thelema Rabelais 2022
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Thelema Rabelais 2022 Magnum (1.5L) in Wooden Box
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View PackagingLooking for an older vintage? Please contact us for more information.