Cape Mentelle is an estate in the Margaret River sub-region of Western Australia.

Owner: LVMH. The founder-owner was David Hohnen, who trained in California and did a vintage at Clos du Val. He twice won Australia’s prestigious Jimmy Watson Trophy, and established the Cloudy Bay estate in Marborough, New Zealand and Cape Mentelle in Western Australia. In 1990 he sold both Cloudy Bay and Cape Mentelle to LVMH.

White wines

Chardonnay, Cape Mentelle

Sauvignon-Semillon, Wallcliffe

Semillon-Sauvignon, Cape Mentelle

Red wines

Cabernet Sauvignon, Cape Mentelle

Shiraz, Cape Mentelle: 1986 Debut. Some Grenache has been blended in.

Shiraz, Wallcliffe

Wilyabrup: A single vineyard Cabernet blend.

Zinfandel, Cape Mentelle: Australia’s one varietal Zinfandel of note, a reflection of David Hohnen’s early experiences training as a winemaker in California. | 1981 Debut. | 1995 15.6% alcohol, thus cannot be imported into Europe.

Bibliography

Oz Clarke, Oz Clarke Wine A-Z (Pavilion, 2015), p.71.