2000 Cabernet Sauvignon
Ideal ripening conditions - sunny days and mild night time temperatures - prevailed for the season, ensuring the development of fully ripe and flavoursome fruit.
Cape Mentelle produces cabernet sauvignon of exceptional quality and consistency. Stylistically it resonates traditional, displaying classic varietal character and opulence, structured to improve with age. The consistency of Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon is exemplified by its current Langton's "Outstanding" classification.
Nose
Taking on the mantle of maturity, a bouquet of eucalyptus, dried herbs and spice, gum tree lift and mocha with some fresh mint and soy sauce. The wine evolves over time to an array of aromas that lets your imagination run wild.
Palate
Sweet round palate finishing with dried leaf and chocolate framed by chewy and dusty tannins.
Blend
100% cabernet sauvignon.
Cellaring
Drink now or until 2025
Food Pairing Notes
Perfect match for Prime beef, Wagyu strip, loin Aged venison, Roasted suckling pig, Roasted vegetables, Whole abalone with fresh noodles in abalone and oyster sauce.
The Vineyard
The fruit sourced for this wine comes from the estate’s Wallcliffe Vineyard, planted between 1970 and 1972. The vineyard is located 8km from the ocean, with an elevation of 80 metres and a south-west aspect. The vines grow on gravel laterite soils derived from decomposed ironstone over gravelly, clay sub-soils. Vine spacing is 2200 vines/hectare with all vines vertically trained and cane pruned so that 30 - 40 buds are left on each vine. Judicious shoot and leaf removal is carried out in late summer to open up the canopy. Trickle irrigation is applied sparingly, combined with a springtime composting to maintain vine health and ensure that physiologically ripe grapes are harvested.
The Season
A mild yet wet winter with consistent rains until the end of October followed by cool to mild temperatures in November resulted in a late budburst and flowering. Early summer was warm and dry, accelerating vine growth. Ideal ripening conditions - sunny days and mild night time temperatures - prevailed for the rest of the season, ensuring the development of fully ripe and flavoursome fruit. A little scare in early March by cyclone Steve produced only 7mm of rain and provided brief respite during a rather hectic harvest schedule. Fine and mild weather continued until the last grapes were harvested on April 12th. Bird damage to the grapes was minimal, due to an excellent marri blossom providing an alternative food supply.
Analysis
14.9% alcohol; 6.5g/l acidity; 3.65pH
