Cape Mentelle - Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Cape Mentelle was founded in 1970 by brothers David, Mark, and Giles Hohnen, who planted 16 hectares of vines at what is now the Wallcliffe Vineyard. Its name comes from nearby Cape Mentelle, named by a French expedition that charted the Western Australian coast in 1801.

The early years were a period of experimentation. David planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon to learn what suited the site. Cabernet soon became the estate’s calling card: Cape Mentelle won the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy in both 1983 and 1984, bringing national attention to the young winery and to Margaret River.

The range grew from there. David’s interest in Zinfandel led to plantings in 1972, among Western Australia’s first commercial vineyards of the variety. After establishing Cloudy Bay in New Zealand in 1985, he also developed Cape Mentelle’s Sauvignon Blanc–Sémillon blend. The estate expanded with Trinders Vineyard in 1988 and Chapman Brook in the early 1990s. Today, Cape Mentelle is part of Paragon Wine Estates and continues to build on those original vineyards.

Cape Mentelle’s flagship Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced primarily from Wallcliffe, including vines rooted in the estate’s first plantings. Fruit from Wallcliffe and Trinders grows in ancient sandy loam soils with ironstone and clay. The estate aims for fine tannins and balanced acidity, expressing both the coastal character of Margaret River and the depth of its oldest vineyards.

Producer: Cape Mentelle

Country: Australia

Region: Western Australia

Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot

Appellation: Margaret River

Vintage: 2018

Size: 750ml