Skip to main content
Menu
08 9757 0812
Your Cart0 items: $0.00
  • Cape Mentelle 331 Wallcliffe Rd, Margaret River, WA 6285

2020 Reserve Chardonnay

2020 Reserve Chardonnay
Add To Cart
$150.00
/ Bottle
SOLD OUT
"A Chardonnay symphony of our vineyards, power and elegance all the way to the grand finale!"

In Margaret River, considered one of Australia’s premium chardonnay growing regions, Cape Mentelle creates wines of plush texture, depth and power, yet balanced with a fine frame of acidity. This Reserve Chardonnay reflects Chapman Brook and Crossroads, our two southern Margaret River vineyards. Both sites have wonderful expressive personalities that complement each other beautifully and represent a combination of both our past and present. From careful site selection many years ago through to refined and innovative viticulture and winemaking practices today. Bringing them together is a joy, creating one of the finest expressions of our unique terroir.
 

Appearance
Pale yellow
Nose
A subtle bouquet expanding with great intensity of white peach, guava, ripe pear and jasmine flower with beeswax notes. The fragrance building as it opens up in the glass.
Palate
Bouquet and body are not separately distinguishable. This three-dimensional wine will take you on a journey into the heart of our vineyards. Generosity from perfectly ripe stone fruit, rock melon and honeysuckle represents Chapman Brook Vineyard, while Crossroads Vineyard brings tension adding another layer with lime, lemon curd and mandarin. Additional elements of flint beautifully support the firm structure and profound personality.
Blend
Chardonnay 100%
Cellaring
10+ years
Food Pairing Notes
Crayfish with sage butter sauce. Mushroom tart with shaved truffle. Gougères, French cheese puffs made with aged cheddar.
The Vineyard
This wine showcases our top chardonnay blocks each season from our two southern vineyards, about 15 minutes south of the Margaret River township. Differing greatly in terms of aspect, soil profile, temperature extremes and rainfall, these conditions contribute to a variation of fruit profile which highlights the vineyard site, our region and the specific vintage conditions. The resultant wine represents a combination of both past and present. Careful site selection many years ago through to a refined process of viticulture which encompasses pruning technique, soil management and several passes by hand, has ensured the fruit is a pure reflection of site and varietal. Hand harvested in the cool of the morning and processed accordingly to retain aromatics, transporting the vineyard to the glass.
Winemaking
Select parcels of chardonnay are hand-picked with a ‘one plot, one batch’ approach, then gently pressed and transferred to barrel for wild fermentation. The beautiful French oak (38% new) is focused on enhancing the attributes of site. The wine is left unsulfured for a few weeks post-ferment with a stirring regime monitored by taste to build texture and refine structure. Each batch is reviewed throughout maturation to assess the blends. For this first release of the Reserve Chardonnay our tasting team selected the best blocks that vintage 2020 provided, then selected barrels from each to craft a blend representing the finest expression of harvest, allowing each block to shine.
Analysis
14% alcohol 7.4 g/l total acidity 3.11 pH

Halliday Wine Companion 2024

Jane Faulkner
96

A classy chardy enmeshed in so much flavour it constantly changes in the glass. Starts with lemon ginger herbal tea, quince paste and lemony freshness then moves into savoury territory with cashew butter, miso and creamy lees with smokin’ sulphides. The cedary oak is a mere coating adding plenty of spice, too. The result, a deeply satisfying drink.

Wine Pilot

Ken Gargett
96

In recent years, Cape Mentelle has elevated itself from an iconic red producer with impressive whites to one of this country’s leading wineries, red and white. The Chardonnays especially, have gone to new levels. They sit with the nation’s best. 74% from the Chapman vineyard, the remainder from the Crossroads. 100% gingin clone. 100% whole bunch pressed, barrel fermented and matured in French oak, for a period of ten months. 
A pale lemon hue, appropriate as the nose offers lovely lemony notes. A crème brulee character with lemon meringue hints. The oak is immaculately integrated. Fragrant, most appealing, the wine is exquisitely balanced. The finish lingers beautifully. A very high quality Chardonnay, representative of CM’s elevated status as a producer of this variety. It also provides yet more compelling evidence of what a brilliant region the Margaret River is for this great white grape. Enjoy over the next six to ten years. 

Download

Product Reviews

Add A Product Review
E-Mail me when someone reviews this product
Leave this field blank:


Are you over 18 years of age?

Yes No