Thelema “The Mint” Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Ripe red berry, cassis and dark chocolate flavours are complimented by hints of mint and on the palate. The wine has fine tannins with a long, mocha finish. A great wine to pair with roast lamb or game.

Maturation

Character will keep developing for 8 more years

Food Pairing

Roast lamb!

Winemaker's Comments

POSSIBLE ORIGIN OF “MINT” / EUCALYPTOL CHARACTER

The most likely source of the “mint” character could be attributed to the airborne transfer from the Eucalyptus trees, which border this specific Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard, to the grape berries. It is believed that the berries outer wax layer could adsorb Eucalyptol, a compound responsible for the aroma, released into the air by the trees. It subsequently becomes dissolved during the fermentation process, which takes place on the skins, inevitably giving the wine a “minty” character unique to this vineyard.

All Vintages

Thelema “The Mint” Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Tasting Notes

Viticultural Practices

Varietal	100% Cabernet Sauvignon – clone 163
Root stock	Mgt 101-14
Soil type	Hutton – decomposed granite
Age of vines	Planted 1985
Plant density	3200 vines per hectare
Trellising	Vertical hedge
Pruning	2-bud spurs every 15cm
Yield	6.98 t/ha
Irrigation	Supplementary drip
Vintage	A cool start to season delayed harvest by a week or so, resutling in an exceptional vintage with red wines of great purity, elegance and concentration.
Picking date	4th of April
Grape sugar	24.41 °B
Acidity	5.20 g/l
pH at harvest	3.67

Winemaking Practices

Yeasts	Natural occurring yeasts
Fermentation temp	27 °C
Method	De-stalked, hand sorting of berries, crushed, pumped into a stainless steel fermenter, pumped over for 10 days, left for 6 days before pressing, racked to barrel for malolactic fermentation.
Wood maturation	18 months in barrel. 40% new French oak, balance in older barrels.