Cape Mentelle Chardonnay 2023 is a serious, site-expressive wine from one of Margaret River's most distinguished estates. Sourced from two southern vineyard sites approximately 15 minutes south of the Margaret River township, it combines the Gingin clone's natural generosity with meticulous barrel and lees work to deliver a Chardonnay of real depth, texture and mineral precision. A wine equally rewarding to drink now or cellar with confidence for a decade or more.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Bright pale lemon.
Aroma: Struck flint and sea spray lead, followed by acacia, jasmine, lime pith and a touch of biscuity shortbread.
Palate: Focused and balanced with a succulent fruit core and maritime freshness. Yellow stone fruit, cumquat and nashi pear are joined by saline and crushed-seashell characters. Fine phenolics, satin texture and mouthwatering acidity provide a long, structured finish.
Vineyard & Region
The fruit is drawn from two southern Margaret River vineyard sites that differ meaningfully in aspect, soil profile, temperature extremes and rainfall — diversity that contributes complexity to the final blend. The Gingin clone, sourced from the Chapman Brook and Crossroads sites, provides the wine's characteristic generosity and depth. The viticultural objective across all blocks is bright natural acidity, purity of fruit and clear site expression, with the majority of fruit hand harvested during cool early-morning conditions.
Winemaking
Cape Mentelle uses a disciplined 'one plot, one batch' approach. Fruit is hand-picked and cooled overnight before whole-bunch pressing. Juice is transferred to barrel with solids and fermented using either wild or selected yeasts, according to the character of each individual batch. French oak is selected plot by plot, with 28% new barriques in 2023. The wine remained unsulphured for several weeks after fermentation and matured on lees for ten months, with lees stirring managed by taste rather than schedule. Final blending took place in December.
Vintage Conditions
The 2023 vintage in Margaret River began with a mild spring followed by a dry and calm summer. Ripening progressed steadily and harvest commenced in mid-February. Cape Mentelle describes 2023 as another beautiful Margaret River growing season.
Cellaring & Serving
Cape Mentelle advises this wine will age gracefully for 10–15 years from vintage. Drink now through to 2038. Serve at 10–12°C to allow the wine's full aromatic complexity and textural richness to express itself.
Food Pairing
Beautifully suited to chicken with lemon, butter and caper sauces, fresh seafood, grilled fish and lobster. Also excellent alongside chargrilled vegetables, burrata salads and soft, creamy cheeses. The wine's saline minerality and fine acidity make it a natural match for brine-touched ingredients.
