Peter Lehmann Mentor Cabernet Sauvignon 2012  £25.95

PETER LEHMANN MENTOR CABERNET SAUVIGNON 

Peter Lehmann, with 33 vintages already under his belt, started his own winery in 1979, partly as a means of helping with the glut of grapes then afflicting the Barossa. "I'll take your grapes and turn them into wine," he told the desperate growers, many of them conservative farmers of Silesian descent who regarded their old vines as part of their patrimony. "But I'll only be able to pay you when I sell the wine." They gratefully accepted. Without this deal, it is widely thought that the Barossa would have lost a huge chunk of its old vines. The 'Masters' wines are made from the parcels regarded by the winemakers as the best Semillon, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz of the vintage.

Peter Lehmann Wines works with over 140 growers across the length and breadth of the Barossa Valley region, with access to over 750 individual vineyard sites. Fruit was selected from premium vineyards from a number of Barossa sub-regions. These vineyards are all planted with old vines which yield a very low amount of fruit.

2012 was an outstanding vintage, with lower-than-average yields. The weather was mild throughout with cool nights allowing a gentle, slow ripening which has produced red wines of great poise and substance. Fermented and macerated on skins for up to two weeks with some partial barrel fermentation. Following pressing and clarification, the wine was matured in French oak hogsheads for approximately 15 months. 

This limited release is the best Cabernet of the vintage, the mild conditions experienced in 2012 having accentuated the varietal characteristics. The colour is deep, leading to a bouquet of violet and cassis and a touch of dark chocolate. The palate shows the substance of Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon and finishes with great length - a wine of great breeding which can be cellared with confidence for another 8-10 years.

Halliday Rating 96/100

Drink By 2037

Source The Wine Companion

"Finishes its fermentation and is matured in French hogsheads for 18 months. The varietal expression is faultless, redolent of black fruits corralled by some bramble and savoury tannins on the finish. A very good vintage for cabernet - indeed all red wines - in the Barossa Valley if the alcohol his controlled."