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  • Cape Mentelle 331 Wallcliffe Rd, Margaret River, WA 6285

    • We acknowledge the Wadandi Boodja (Saltwater People’s Country) as the traditional custodians of the lands where we now grow and produce our stunning wines. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and commit to continued listening to and learning from First Nations’ voices.

2020 Wallcliffe Cabernet Franc

2020 Wallcliffe Cabernet Franc
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$49.00
/ Bottle
SKU: WCF20 1103905
"These mature cabernet franc vines from our Estate Vineyard provide consistently elegant yet powerful fruit year after year."

Our Wallcliffe series of wines are a limited edition of bottling that celebrates the highlights of each vintage, the finest parcels of fruit and the best barrel selection. Explore our diverse and surprising Margaret River terroir with the best varietal blend each season. 2020 is an expression of our stunning cabernet franc blocks delivering great presence and class, completed with a pinch of cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Leaving a remakable, lasting memory!

Appearance
Deep ruby with garnet edges.
Nose
The aroma opens with wild blackberries, violets and lavender surrounded by sweet spices, potpourri and almond meal.
Palate
A charming palate with effortless power, showing great energy and precise structure. An elegant core of silky tannin highlights ripe red cherries, dried plums and black tea, intertwining with notes of tobacco and briny seaweed.
Blend
91% cabernet franc 5% cabernet sauvignon 3% merlot 1% petit verdot
Cellaring
Ready for enjoyment on release, this wine can also be cellared for 10+ years.
Food Pairing Notes
Sirloin steak with cracked pepper. Fettuccine with crispy mushrooms in brown sage butter sauce. Tangy green olives and Red Leicester cheese.
Show Technical Notes and Reviews
The Vineyard
Our aim is to deliver grapes that are a true and vibrant expression of the vineyard site, with excellent tannin structure and ripeness. A range of precision viticulture techniques are included in our annual plans for each block, with the focus on canopy manipulation, ensuring air flow and sunlight penetration into the fruit zone. These mature cabernet franc vines from our Estate Vineyard provide consistently elegant yet powerful fruit year after year. The 2020 vintage in Margaret River was a real treat for viticulturists. Beginning in January, harvest was one of the earliest on record due to the lower yields and warm, dry weather. Low disease pressure, timely flowering of native marri trees to keep the birds at bay and little to no rain meant that growers could literally ‘take their pick’ as required. Rainfall resumed in March but overall, a warmer than usual summer with plenty of heat accumulation across the season.
Winemaking
After destemming, the two cabernet franc vineyard blocks were lightly crushed to closed top fermenters, with selected yeasts. Cap management operations were gentle and maceration periods reached 23 days. At the desired balance of fruit perfume and silky tannins, the wine was basket pressed with the pressing wines kept separate. Small portions of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot were assembled early with the cabernet franc, allowing the wines and pressings to integrate harmoniously through ageing. The wine was matured in barrel for 18 months with limited racking and 40% new French oak was used to complement the fruit. This unique final blend remained unfined and was filtered before being Estate bottled.
Analysis
13.5% alcohol 5.77 g/l total acidity 3.48 pH Suitable for vegans

WA Wine Review 2025

Ray Jordan
94

This is a Right Bank influenced Bordeaux blend with about 91% cabernet franc. It’s a variety that needs good vintages and the early 2020 vintage has suited it. A mix of red berry and dark cherry and violet on the nose. The palate is still quite tight but elegantly framed with firm fine tannins. This is a serious statement of cab franc with cellaring potential. There’s an appealing juicy fruit character here. Cellar 12 years.

Wine Pilot

Jeni Port
94

A cabernet franc led Bordeaux blend. More Right Bank than Left, with 91% cabernet franc out front of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot.
The colour is deep, dense crimson. The scent is leafy greens, bright herbal thyme, sage, dark plum, green tea and violet aromatics. Linear and firm, a long line of tannin threads its way through the wine, through the black fruits, the anise and spice, the herbs, the gentle oak, the smoky tobacco and dusty earth. Brisk cherry pip dry finish. One for the cellar, if you can wait. Drink: 2023-2033 

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