WTN: Cape Mentelle Shiraz 2005

One more Aussie wine to help(?) us with our Old Persian project. My colleague in the project loves blockbusters and we have rather opposite tastes in wines. I was warned away from the Cape Mentelle '06 (which should have been the current vintage in Alko) but I saw some '05 today and so I took that our session.

Cape Mentelle Shiraz 2005 Margaret River; 23,30€; 15% abv (!!!!)

I thought Margaret River was a relatively cool climate for Australia so I wasn't expecting 15% Shiraz. Well, the positive thing is that it certainly didn't taste like it had 15%. A pretty classic scent with dried, dark fruit, some fresh mulberry, some chocolate remnants peeking out from the 18 month barrel regime, but the oak is integrated on most sniffs. Full bodied, but with refreshing structure: unlike almost all other 15% wines I have had, this finishes pleasantly dry and crisp and has no heat or jammy fruit on the finish.

I never thought I would write this, but apparently some very rare examples at such elevated alcohol levels can work! I would still prefer more freshness to the fruit rather than a pruney, dried character, but on the whole this was much more to my taste than the Barossas I have had. I hope we will see more from the cooler regions here! And happily my blockbuster-loving friend also enjoyed it! We found the middle ground!

Surprised to see that alcohol level - I've liked Cape Mentelle's wines in the past, they're certainly quite tasty although I don't find them that interesting or distinctive and don't think they're worth the tariff.

Re. the climate issue Otto - Margaret River is a bit cooler than the big areas like Barossa/McLaren Vale and the wines are generally lower in alcohol, although I believe 05 was a fairly warm/ripe vintage there. That said you may want to check out the stuff from Frankland River which is a bit further south than Margaret River.

I too have a 15% shiraz here that I opened two days ago. Vasse Felix from Margaret River.
I was expecting more cool climate character but was shocked at the secondary flavors on day 2 yesterday. Monster!
Otto, Cape Mentelle used to be available here, now its all Mollydocker!!!!
You are in for a shock when you get around to tasting that!

Better yet: just don't!

Friends don't let friends drink Dooker!

David Lole often has good things to say about this producer...

[David M. Bueker]

I like Cape Mentelle as well.

Cape Mentelle have returned to form in recent years after a serious outbreak of brettanomyces in the winery some time ago. The high alcohol Otto mentions may be of some concern, but if you can't notice it now, it may not be all that much of a problem in the short/medium term. IMHO, the two best wine's produced here are the Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The Semillon Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz are, generally, very good indeed and have a dedicated following. The other wine of some interest here, but, generally, rarely seen in Australia, is a particularly good Zinfadel.

Thanks for the replies. 15% for a "coolish" climate seems a bit excessive and I'm still scratching my head, wondering why it worked! I remember quite enjoying the unoaked Sém-SB they did.