Cape Mentelle, Margaret River, Western Australia

One of the places we didn’t get to visit on our last trip to Margaret River, was Cape Mentelle, as we were pressed for time, and had so many places to cover on our list. But the good news is, that the wines are coming to us! Cape Mentelle is a limestone headland on the Indian Ocean coast of south-western Western Australia. It is within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, just north of the mouth of the Margaret River and 9 km west of the town of Margaret River. It lies on the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, half way between Cape Naturaliste 50 km to the north, and Cape Leeuwin 50 km to the south, on the route of the Cape to Cape walking track.

In 1965 agriculturist Dr John Gladstones had a ‘gut feeling’ about Margaret River as a wine region with strong similarities to Bordeaux. He saw undulating well-draining ironstone gravel soils carrying healthy marri trees, which were an indication of prime vineyard soil. Wine industry pioneer David Honen and his brothers established Cape Mentelle Vineyards in 1970. The phenomenal Cape Mentelle journey started with just 16 hectares of vines planted on what is now referred as the “Wallcliffe Vineyards”.

Cape Mentelle is a founding winery of Margaret River, established in 1970. Cape Mentelle today has over 200 hectares of its own vines across four regional vineyards. One of the most remote wine regions in the world located in the south west corner of Australia, its natural beauty with spectacular coastlines captivates visitors. Here the maritime influence of the Indian Ocean ensures even temperatures, providing consistently excellent vintage conditions.

Cape Mentelle pioneered many of the region’s renowned wine styles and today is a benchmark for the quality of the region’s wines. It has played a leading role in defining the regional style of cabernet sauvignon that now stands alongside the world’s best. It recognised that blending sauvignon blanc and semillon created a striking evocation of place and has bravely sought to push boundaries with the sometimes challenging, always compelling zinfandel.

Accolades including consecutive wins of Australia’s most prestigious wine trophy with the iconic Cabernet Sauvignon in 1983 and 1984, helped put Margaret River on the international wine map.

The wines made in Cape Mentelle reflect their origins in every possible sense and anyone who has ever set out on a journey of great discovery will see something of themselves in the wines of Cape Mentelle. And now these wines will come to us in KL. On the 17th of July, Moet Hennessy Diageo Malaysia, will be hosting a lunch and wine pairing session at Le Meridien, Kuala Lumpur. Rob Mann, Chief Winemaker & Estate Director of Cape Mentelle as well as Kate Lamont, West Australian Chef & Ambassador, will be in town to conduct the wine tasting and food pairing lunch session. So, I guess we are not so gutted after all for having missed these wines in Margaret River. As luck would have it, Cape Mentelle wines, have come to us.