Cape Mentelle Zinfandel 2020

From the Wallcliffe vineyard, their Zinfandel vines were planted in 1974. Cape Mentelle have long set the standard for Aussie Zin and, rather sadly, almost no one else has followed. 5% Shiraz is incorporated and the wine spent a year and a half maturing in a mix of French and Hungarian oak, half of which is new. Deep mauve in colour, the nose is a burly one with warm earth, chocolate, florals, rose petals and blackberries. It is a powerful and yet balanced wine of medium length with firm tannins with chocolate and cassis coming to the fore on the palate. This has a promising future and should drink well for the next eight to ten years.