Cape Mentelle
Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Margaret River, South West Australia, Western Australia, Australia
My last 2007 Mentelle Cabernet - last of the old white label. Very dense in colour - a dark Ruby. Cassis and blackcurrant. See previous Delectable notes. Not overly herbal like most Margaret Cabernets. Cedar and black olive notes as well. Amazing vitality and concentration for 16 years - in hindsight could have left it for longer. A ripe powerful Cabernet - more like a South Australian Cabernet in structure and fruit ripeness. An excellent vintage in Marg River which hardly ever has a bad one…..2006 comes to mind. Wish I had consumed this when 20 years of age. PS. Nick Stock said one of the greatest Cape Mentelles of all time. Only 800 cases made.
My last 2007 Mentelle Cabernet - last of the old white label. Very dense in colour - a dark Ruby. Cassis and blackcurrant. See previous Delectable notes. Not overly herbal like most Margaret Cabernets. Cedar and black olive notes as well. Amazing vitality and concentration for 16 years - in hindsight could have left it for longer. A ripe powerful Cabernet - more like a South Australian Cabernet in structure and fruit ripeness. An excellent vintage in Marg River which hardly ever has a bad one…..2006 comes to mind. Wish I had consumed this when 20 years of age. PS. Nick Stock said one of the greatest Cape Mentelles of all time. Only 800 cases made.
Oct 21st, 2023The 2nd of two vintage Cape Mentelle wines for Sunday lunch. A medium plus crimson red in colour. Notes of mulberry and herbaceous Margaret River characters. Even at 15 years a whiff of French oak. With time in decanter sweet red and black fruits revealed themselves on the medium plus bodied palate. Finishing with velvety tannins. A classic Margaret River Cabernet from a good vintage - the first of 4 bottles from the cellar. Loved this with a Porterhouse Waygu score of 4. Cape Mentelle was one of the early stars of Margaret River, with David Hohnen at the helm they won 3 Jimmy Watson trophies in a row in the early 1980s. Nowadays owned by LVMH. Had another 52 weeks later on 7th January 2024 with consistent notes. Still have 2 left. Have next in 2025 and then the last one anytime up to 2028. I ended up having the 2nd last one on 8th June 2024 with consistent notes as previous.
The 2nd of two vintage Cape Mentelle wines for Sunday lunch. A medium plus crimson red in colour. Notes of mulberry and herbaceous Margaret River characters. Even at 15 years a whiff of French oak. With time in decanter sweet red and black fruits revealed themselves on the medium plus bodied palate. Finishing with velvety tannins. A classic Margaret River Cabernet from a good vintage - the first of 4 bottles from the cellar. Loved this with a Porterhouse Waygu score of 4. Cape Mentelle was one of the early stars of Margaret River, with David Hohnen at the helm they won 3 Jimmy Watson trophies in a row in the early 1980s. Nowadays owned by LVMH. Had another 52 weeks later on 7th January 2024 with consistent notes. Still have 2 left. Have next in 2025 and then the last one anytime up to 2028. I ended up having the 2nd last one on 8th June 2024 with consistent notes as previous.
Jan 8th, 2023See 3 previous Delectable notes. A brilliant Cabernet from an excellent producer, and a great vintage in Margaret River. Cassis, black currant and dried herbs on nose and palate. The complete package, great balance, and going strong at 15 years. Still powerful and tasting youthful. Manages to be ripe and elegant at the same time. Not sure how long I will leave drinking the last bottle. Hard to beat right now.
See 3 previous Delectable notes. A brilliant Cabernet from an excellent producer, and a great vintage in Margaret River. Cassis, black currant and dried herbs on nose and palate. The complete package, great balance, and going strong at 15 years. Still powerful and tasting youthful. Manages to be ripe and elegant at the same time. Not sure how long I will leave drinking the last bottle. Hard to beat right now.
Sep 9th, 2022The first of 4 bottles from my cellar. The nose has blackberry, violets and dried herbs. The palate has that trademark Margaret River herbaceousness but in this warmer vintage more cassis, fine persistent tannins which go on forever - almost silky. Just a beautiful rendition of Margaret River Cabernet with a very long life in front of it - say 20 years. Cape Mentelle one of the early vineyards and down in the south near the town.
The first of 4 bottles from my cellar. The nose has blackberry, violets and dried herbs. The palate has that trademark Margaret River herbaceousness but in this warmer vintage more cassis, fine persistent tannins which go on forever - almost silky. Just a beautiful rendition of Margaret River Cabernet with a very long life in front of it - say 20 years. Cape Mentelle one of the early vineyards and down in the south near the town.
Aug 2nd, 2022
Classic example of Margaret River Cabernet. Ripe blackberry and a streak of eucalyptus/menthol. deep texture and tannic backbone
Classic example of Margaret River Cabernet. Ripe blackberry and a streak of eucalyptus/menthol. deep texture and tannic backbone
Jun 3rd, 2022Similar to the note I made a year ago in August 2020. Aromas of dried herbs, bay leaf, tomato bush with a woody note (not Oak) which we identified as Walnut similar to the previous note. This Cabernet is slightly different to the northern Margaret River (Wilyabrup) Cabernets like Woodlands and Moss Wood. On the Medium plus bodied palate red and black fruits with currants and mulberries. This was from a good vintage and is currently in a great place. Enjoy a bottle if you have any. POSTSCRIPT: A note by James Halliday from the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting in 2010 , for the 2007 vintage - “the trio of Cape Mentelle, Moss Wood and Woodlands pushed Leoville Las Cases and Chateau Margaux out of contention. “ Admittedly 2007 was not a great year in Bordeaux.
Similar to the note I made a year ago in August 2020. Aromas of dried herbs, bay leaf, tomato bush with a woody note (not Oak) which we identified as Walnut similar to the previous note. This Cabernet is slightly different to the northern Margaret River (Wilyabrup) Cabernets like Woodlands and Moss Wood. On the Medium plus bodied palate red and black fruits with currants and mulberries. This was from a good vintage and is currently in a great place. Enjoy a bottle if you have any. POSTSCRIPT: A note by James Halliday from the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet Tasting in 2010 , for the 2007 vintage - “the trio of Cape Mentelle, Moss Wood and Woodlands pushed Leoville Las Cases and Chateau Margaux out of contention. “ Admittedly 2007 was not a great year in Bordeaux.
Aug 20th, 2021
Shimmering ruby. Smoke- and mineral-accented cherry and cassis scents are complemented by cigar box, cured tobacco and rose nuances. Silky and concentrated on the palate, offering penetrating dark berry and bitter cherry flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Distinctly energetic in style, finishing with sharp clarity and slowly building, fine-grained tannins. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2021)
Shimmering ruby. Smoke- and mineral-accented cherry and cassis scents are complemented by cigar box, cured tobacco and rose nuances. Silky and concentrated on the palate, offering penetrating dark berry and bitter cherry flavors supported by a spine of juicy acidity. Distinctly energetic in style, finishing with sharp clarity and slowly building, fine-grained tannins. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2021)
Stunning. My last bottle. Wish I had more.
Stunning. My last bottle. Wish I had more.
Jan 10th, 2021Another gift for my Cabernet tasting - thanks Andrew. - proving that even though this wine won the Jimmy Watson Trophy in 1985 (for the Best One Year Old Dry Red at Royal Melbourne) it is made to cellar and was brilliant in its 36th year. No detailed notes - had all the classic Cabernet descriptors typical of the district including Mint and herbaceous Tomato Bush aromas. A lovely old wine.
Another gift for my Cabernet tasting - thanks Andrew. - proving that even though this wine won the Jimmy Watson Trophy in 1985 (for the Best One Year Old Dry Red at Royal Melbourne) it is made to cellar and was brilliant in its 36th year. No detailed notes - had all the classic Cabernet descriptors typical of the district including Mint and herbaceous Tomato Bush aromas. A lovely old wine.
Sep 29th, 2020Wine No. 6 of the 8 Cabernets we tasted blind on Saturday. The idea for this tasting came from Cape Mentelle who annually have an International Cabernet tasting at the winery in WA where they have the confidence to put their wine up against the best Cabernets in the world every year. This has all of the classic Cabernet descriptors of black olive, red fruits, cigar box etc. Ranked #6 of the 8 Cabernets we tasted on the day. Again needs to be cellared to realise its ultimate potential.
Wine No. 6 of the 8 Cabernets we tasted blind on Saturday. The idea for this tasting came from Cape Mentelle who annually have an International Cabernet tasting at the winery in WA where they have the confidence to put their wine up against the best Cabernets in the world every year. This has all of the classic Cabernet descriptors of black olive, red fruits, cigar box etc. Ranked #6 of the 8 Cabernets we tasted on the day. Again needs to be cellared to realise its ultimate potential.
Sep 28th, 2020