Thelema, Merlot Reserve 2022

Description

A family owned and managed wine estate, part of the spectacular Simonsberg Mountain range in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Home to Thelema and Sutherland wines.

TASTING NOTES
This wine is a limited release of the finest Merlot of the vintage. On the nose, ripe cherries, succulent raspberries, and delicate blackcurrant notes intertwine elegantly with hints of cedar, sandalwood, and baking spices. The palate offers a symphony of red fruit flavours, led by strawberries and black cherries, balanced by refined acidity, velvety tannins, and subtle minerality. This Merlot exemplifies elegance and balance, offering a sophisticated yet approachable expression.

FOOD PAIRING
Perfect for pairing with dishes like seared duck breast, mushroom risotto, or aged Gruyère.

VITICULTURAL PRACTICES
Varietal: Merlot – Clone 192 / MO 343
Root stock: R99
Soil type: Hutton – decomposed granite
Age of vines: Planted in 1988 & 2000
Plant density: 3200 vines per hectare
Trellising: Vertical hedge
Pruning: 2-bud spurs every 12cm
Yield: 10.6 t/ha
Irrigation: Supplementary drip
Vintage: Wet, cool climate conditions allowed replenishment of water reserves and slow ripening period.
Picking date: 1 – 11 March 2022
Grape sugar: 24.2 °B
Acidity: 5.1 g/l
pH at harvest: 3.5

WINEMAKING PRACTICES
Yeasts: Alchemy 4
Fermentation temp: 24 – 26 °C
Method: The grapes are de-stalked, hand sorted, the whole berries are pumped into stainless steel fermentation.Tanks, inoculated with a cultured yeast and pumped over once a day until the desired level of colour and tannin extraction has been achieved. After fermentation the wine is pressed and racked to barrel for malolactic fermentation.
Wood maturation: 18 months in 55% new French oak barrels

WINE ANAYSIS
Residual Sugar: 2.0 g/l
pH: 3.55
Total acid: 5.2 g/l
Alcohol: 14.0% by volume

Additional information

Perfect for pairing with dishes like seared duck breast, mushroom risotto, or aged Gruyère.