Thelema The Mint Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 is a distinctive, premium red from Thelema Mountain Vineyards, a family‑owned estate in the Simonsberg foothills of Stellenbosch, South Africa known for crafting expressive, terroir‑driven Bordeaux‑style wines with elegance and depth. Thelema combines classic viticulture with meticulous winemaking, and this bottling has earned high acclaim, including around 95 points from Tim Atkin’s South Africa Special Report, for its quality and character. Made from 100 % Cabernet Sauvignon (clone 338) grown on Hutton decomposed granite soils, the 2022 vintage was hand‑harvested after a cool, slow ripening season that enhanced flavour development. Fermentation was followed by about 18 months’ ageing in French oak barrels (40 % new) to add structure and complexity while preserving fruit purity. In the glass it typically shows layered aromas of blackcurrant, ripe dark plum, cassis and dark chocolate balanced by a unique, subtle mint/eucalyptus character, a naturally occurring note attributed to the influence of nearby eucalyptus trees at the vineyard that impart eucalyptol into the grape skins during growing. On the palate the wine is smooth and elegant, with fine, polished tannins, balanced acidity and a long, refined finish that combines depth with freshness. This wine pairs beautifully with roast lamb, grilled red meats, hearty stews or mature cheeses, and its structure and finesse also reward decanting and short‑to‑medium term cellaring for further development. Why we love this wine? We love the eucalyptus character underlying the broody black fruit Cab character!
