December 2024 MEDIA KIT
Mentelle Explorers
Vintage 2024 stands out as truly remarkable, unfolding seamlessly from budburst to harvest. Commencing 3 weeks ahead of last year, it ranks among the earliest vintages on record and produced pristine fruit from every corner of our vineyards.
Chief of Winemaking and Viticulture, David Moulton, will always remember this vintage for its fast and furious start:
"The highlight to me was the way the team came together and got the job done. It was a very dry season, supplementary irrigation was required but there was zero disease pressure and the fruit showed great concentration and varietal characteristics".
We are delighted to present to you our 2024 Winter Wine Club pack featuring a vertical of our cult Zinfandel.
Enjoy!
TASTING NOTES & Reviews
2017 Cape Mentelle
zinfandel
"Zinfandel's complex path from Bordeaux to the Napa Valley and thence to Margaret River, is a tale in itself. It's not an easy variety to grow, nor to make, and Cape Mentelle has consistently been the best in Australia."
95 Points, James Halliday
2018 Cape Mentelle
zinfandel
"Hand picked, wild ferment, on skins for 51 days, left for 7 months on ferment lees, blended and matured a further 12 months in (50% new) oak, a 50/25/25% mix of French, Hungarian and American. From the near-perfect 2018 vintage, springs this intense, oak-driven and concentrated wine. The year has imparted a concentrated ripeness and balance that will stand it in good stead in the cellar."
95 Points, Erin Larkin
2019 Cape Mentelle
zinfandel
"Works the exotic side of the zinfandel grape, the wild side. Brimming in blueberry, raspberry and bramble fruit with a standout thread of plum jam - a real sweet preserve note - injected with star anise and 5 spice. It's dense and rich and warm as zinfandel - aka primitivo - can be."
91 Points Jeni Port
2020 Cape Mentelle
shiraz
"An amazing bright colour for starters, all dark purple shot with black and red. The delight continues across a fuller-bodied palate that's full of dark plums, cloves, turmeric and Sichuan pepper - a bit of excitement here."
95 Points, Jane Faulkner
2022 Cape Mentelle
WALLCLIFFE SAUVIGNON BLANC
"The 2022 vintage saw fruit of exceptional vibrancy, concentration and quality, producing a pure expression of sauvignon blanc from our two southern vineyards."
Coralie Lewis, Senior Winemaker.
2021 Cape Mentelle
chardonnay
"Restrained but smoky with a touch of flinty reduction and rich grapefruit and peach flavours, which are echoed on the palate. A generous sweet-fruited chardonnay, in typical regional style, grapefruit winning the flavour race. A satisfying glass of chardonnay that's in the zone now."
93 Points Huon Hooke
OPTIONAL WINES
2018 Cape Mentelle wallcliffe
petit verdot cabernet franc
"From the near-perfect 2018 vintage, springs this intense, oak-driven and concentrated wine. The year has imparted a concentrated ripeness and balance that will stand it in good stead in the cellar. The evident oak is distracting right now, but will surely mellow over time.A wine with a cult following."
95 Points Erin Larkin
2020 Cape Mentelle
cabernet sauvignon
"A powerhouse cabernet of immense fruit concentration yet at the same time showing poise and effortless control. Blackcurrant, dark chocolate and a little graphite black olive characters emerge immediately on the nose. The palate is loaded with cabernet of great intensity with a chalky tannin and slightly graphite edge retaining control through to the long finish. "
97 Points, Ray Jordan
TASTING VIDEOS
2021 Cape Mentelle Chardonnay
2020 Cape Mentelle Shiraz
2020 Cape Mentelle cabernet sauvignon