Cape Mentelle
In 1965 agriculturist Dr John Gladstone had a 'gut feeling' about Margaret
River as a wine region with strong similarities to Bordeaux. He saw
undulating well-draining ironstone gravel soils carry healthy healthy
marri trees, which were an indication of prime vineyard soil.
Cape Mentelle today has over 200 hectares of its own vines across four
regional vineyards. Contract-grown fruit is also sourced, with great
care taken to build a relationship with growers to reflect regional
character.
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: CAPE MENTELLE - Cabernet Merlot 2006 - Fine Australian Wine
In such a spectacular but fragile landscape, the team takes its environmental
responsibilities seriously. The sustainable viticulture philosophy starts
in the vineyard, which is as close to organic as possible, extending
through the winery and waste management practices.
History
Cape Mentelle is a founding winery of Margaret River, established in
1970. One of the most remote wine regions in the world located in the
south west corner of Australia, its natural beauty with spectacular
coastlines captivates visitors. Here the maritime influence of the Indian
Ocean ensures even temperatures, providing consistently excellent vintage
conditions.
Cape Mentelle pioneered many of the region's renowned wine styles and
today is a benchmark for the quality of the region's wines. Accolades
including consecutive wines of Australia's most prestigious wine trophy
with the iconic Cabernet Sauvignon in 1983 and 1984, helped put Margaret
River on the international wine map.
Building on the winery's tradition of pioneering spirit and uncompromising
commitment to excellence, an innovative young team is taking up the
challenge to be simply the best.
The Seasons
Summer
Vintage is the busiest and most exciting time, culminating all the
hard work in the vineyard and the birth of the year's new wines. Typically
vintage commences late February. While tourists enjoy the brilliant
blue dark sky days at the beach and indulge in wining and dining, the
winery is all hands on deck around the clock.
The hand picked chardonnay grapes get the first attention followed
by the sauvignon blanc and semillon which are harvested in the cool
of the night. The it's the turn of the reds. Zinfandel grapes are carefully
hand picked to ensure individual bunches are at exactly the correct
ripeness. By mid April, all the shiraz, merlot, cabernet and other varieties
are harvested and the cellar is a buzz of activity of pressing, crushing
and fermenting.
Autumn
As Autumn heralds cooler days and the end of a hectic vintage, the
winemakers' craft and technical expertise come to the fore with skilful
racking, blending, transferring wine into barrels and monitoring of
the maturation of the vintage wines.
Winter
Winter brings rising mist over the vineyards in the early mornings
and crashing surf. In the vineyard this is a time for pruning, mulching
and managing the vines and the soil. Most of the annual rainfall (average
1190mm) arrives, and the intense southerly low-pressure systems can
generate gale force winds building into Spring.
Spring
A new hum of activity from the cellar, blending reds from the previous
vintage, transferring red wines form the recent vintage into oak, bottling
and the excitement of the pending new releases. Budburst on the vines
begins the next cycle of growth.
CAPE MENTELLE - Cabernet Merlot 2006
Grape Type: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and
3% Petit Verdot.
ABV: 14.5%
Appearance: Deep, dark plum.
Nose: Fresh blackcurrant and red cherry, star anise, lavender and subtle
aged tobacco.
Palate: Juicy, ripe plums, blueberries and currants with subtle, cedary
oak and fine, elegant tannins leading to a long, bright and well structured
palate.
Food Pairing: Fresh pasta with wild mushrooms and seared lamb.56% Cabernet
Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot
On Special Offer - Was £13.03 - Now £11.40
CAPE MENTELLE - Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Grape Type: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc.
ABV: 14.9%
Appearance: Deep garnet.
Nose: Rich blackcurrant and mulberry fruit with hints of sweet paprika,
lavender, dark chocolate and subtle vanillin oak.
Palate: The wine is full-bodied with rich, bold fruit flavours including
black cherry and currants, dried tobacco and a slightly mocha oak influence.
The rich texture is balanced by smooth, savoury tannins and a bright,
fresh cool finish.
Food Pairing: Roast a rack of grass fed, prime Angus beef in a wood
fired oven to medium rare and serve with roasted root vegetables and
a red wine jus.
On Special Offer - Was £26.53 - Now £23.16
CAPE MENTELLE - Chardonnay 2006
Grape Type: 100% Chardonnay.
ABV: 14.5%
Appearance: Pale Straw.
Nose: Zest lemon and grapefruit aromas with lifted floral notes, underpinned
by struck flint and ground almonds.
Palate: White peach, fresh figs and pear flavours are supported by a
textured, mealy palate. Subtle oak combines with the fruit to produce
savoury complexity.
Food Pairing: Roasted spatchcock with wild herbs and pine nut stuffing,
on a bed of honey roasted parsnips and pears, served with steamed broccolini.
On Special Offer - Was £15.52 - Now £13.04
CAPE MENTELLE - Sauvignon Semillon 2008
Grape Type: 53% Sauvignon, 47% Semillon.
ABV: 14.9%
Appearance: Pale Straw with hints green.
Nose: Aromas of zesty lime and pawpaw fruits, fresh snowpeas and fragrant
citrus blossom are overlayed with hints of blackcurrant.
Palate: The foreground features lively lemon and lime zest, with crunchy
sugar snap pea and wheat grass. Generous texture and fruit weight is
well balanced by long and even citrus acidity.
Food Pairing: Salt and pepper tofu with shitake broth.
On Special Offer - Was £12.04 - Now £10.09
CAPE MENTELLE - Shiraz 2004
Grape Type: 100% Shiraz.
ABV: 14.4%
Appearance: Dark mulberry red with purple hues.
Nose: Abundant blueberry, dark chocolate, star anise and morello cherries.
Palate: A focussed blend of inky black fruits and black pepper, overlaid
with subtle savoury oak. It is classically spicy with a long and tightly
wound palate rewarding with great intensity.
Food Pairing: Beijing Duck.
On Special Offer - Was £14.53 - Now £12.68
