Cape Mentelle Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2020

First things first. This is a blend of 79% sauvignon blanc and 21% semillon and includes the exceptional Wallcliffe sauvignon blanc vineyard among the three vineyards which contributed fruit. The summer leading into harvest was one of the hottest and driest on record, pushing harvest forward by 10 days for sauvignon blanc out to 23 days for semillon. Within that context, this could be viewed as a more forward example of the Cape Mentelle staple, yet there is a delicacy, too.

Lemon, hay, dusty lemon, lantana, melon and grapefruit pith ride the aroma. The citrus presence on the palate is played up: all grapefruit, Key Lime pie, kaffir lime leaf together with an almond mealiness. Bright, zesty acidity produces a clean, fresh liveliness. Semillon plays an important role, something often underplayed in keeping with the grape’s second fiddle status, but here you see the grape’s textural qualities coming into focus.