2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum
Cape Mentelle has a rich history of exceptional quality and consistency with Cabernet Sauvignon from a pioneering producer in Margaret River in the early 1970's to a benchmark producer today. A single vineyard wine with the style evolving over time, the aim always to define a wine displaying classic varietal character and opulence, strong regional identity and with the structure and fruit intensity to improve with extended cellaring.
Nose
The first notes on the nose are enticing and herbal, reminiscent of bay leaf and dry thyme. The nose then
opens to intense ripe cassis, black pepper, smoke and cocoa with hints of fresh rolled tobacco leaves.
Palate
The bright red attack explodes with red currants and fresh cassis, followed by touches of cloves and juniper berry. A graphite, mineral backbone leads to a still fresh finish supported by structural fine and savoury tannins.
Blend
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 1% Merlot.
Cellaring
Drink now to 2032
Food Pairing Notes
Grilled tri-tip or prime rib roasts, roasted game birds with wild mushrooms.
The Vineyard
Cape Mentelles Estate vineyard was first planted in 1970 with additional plantings in 1988 on a ridge of free draining lateritic gravel cooled by strong westerly sea breezes. For over 30 years the best parcels of Cabernet have been carefully managed to produce grapes with full concentrated flavour and with a firm yet fine tannin profile. The grapes are harvested by hand and sorted in the field then again at the winery to ensure the best possible expression of fruit character and structure each year.
Winemaking
The hand picked fruit underwent destemming and berry sorting followed by light crushing. Individual vineyard batches were fermented on skins for up to 30 days. At the desired balance of fruit and tannin extraction, each batch was gently basket pressed, with harder pressings kept aside. The individual parcels
were racked to oak following pressing for malolactic fermentation. Regular rackings over an 18-month period ensured the individual wines are at their best prior to blending. The wines were matured in selected Bordeaux coopered barriques of which 50% were new with the balance being one year
old. The final blend bottled in October 2014.
Analysis
13.5% alcohol, 6.0 g/l acidity, 3.58 pH