"95+ POINTS. Impressive depth to smell and taste, though it’s only medium weight – gravel, perfume of bay leaf, tobacco, white chocolate and vanilla, redcurrant and mulberry. There’s almost pippy acidity, fresh and lively, with powder fine tannins that grip and shape but don’t dominate – it’s svelte, but ‘classic’ and so long. A bit more power than the 2008, but different again – I’d love to try them side by side. A terrific release and a very long term prospect." - Gary Walsh.
97% cabernet sauvignon, 3% merlot.
APPEARANCE: Dark, vibrant, ruby red.
NOSE: A complex and inviting mix of couverture, rolled tobacco, blackcurrants, violets and wet slate.
PALATE: A full bodied wine of great depth and integration, ripe fresh black fruits combined with many subtle fl avours including plums, chocolate and aniseed. The oak influence is restrained yet supportive of the fruit flavours and together with the slatey fine tannins provides great length and integrity.
THE SEASON: A cool, wet and windy spring extended into the flowering period around November, setting up the season for low yields for all varieties. The sun came out on cue in December and perfect ripening conditions continued through harvest, interrupted only by a spot of rain at the start of March - enough to give the vines a drink and see all varieties harvested in optimal condition.
VINEYARD: Cape Mentelle’s Estate Vineyard was planted in 1970 and 1972 on a ridge of free draining, lateritic gravel on an east west row orientation to minimise to affects of 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 berry by berry 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 were at their best prior to blending. The wines were matured in selected Bordeaux coopered barriques of which 40% were new with the balance being one year old. The final blend was completed in October 2010 and bottled in November 2010.
Don't Pay: $89
WBW Rating: 96/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: Margaret River WA
Winemaker: Robert Mann
Drink now until: 2039
Alc/Vol: 13.5 %
