Cape Mentelle Heritage Chardonnay 2022
- 95
- $150
- Drink by: 2024-2030
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The second release of this wine, I believe, and one which catapults CM into the top echelon of Chardonnay producers in this great region. This is a superb Chardy, as it should be for this price, and is only going to get even better in the coming years. Barrel fermentation with ten months maturation on lees in French barriques, 38% of which were new. A yellow/green hue, the nose is still very youthful and tight at this early stage. Finely balanced, refined and elegant, there are notes of citrus and the tropicals. Taut, poised and supple with a seamless structure, there are also prominent flavours of grapefruit pith, struck match and oatmeal. Superb oak integration, with a long and lingering finish. Enjoy over the next six to ten years as it continues to evolve. A cracking Chardonnay.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
