For those who take great pride in memorizing the elite Cabernets and Bordeaux blends of the world, I think I know what you’re doing right now: racking your brain and/or scrambling to familiarize yourself with Mount Mary’s “Quintet.” Don't feel embarrassed! Just like Australian cult-favorite Wendouree, Mount Mary is rarely witnessed on American soils, yet it is no stranger to flattering press and lofty scores—especially in 2018!
This was a momentous year for Mount Mary: On top of celebrating their 50th anniversary, they were crowned “2018 Winery of the Year” by Aussie legend James Halliday and awarded the highest tier by Langton’s Classification, a quadrennial ranking of Australia’s ultra-fine wines. In fact, across Langton’s seven total releases over the past 31 years, only two names have been on it every single time: $600+ Penfolds Grange and Mount Mary. Intrigued yet? Then keep on reading because we haven’t even discussed the actual wine in question! Today’s 2018 “Quintet” has been decorated with two near-perfect reviews; James Suckling crowned it #26 on his Top 100 list; and Mount Mary’s winemaker, Sam Middleton, exclaimed that “it will be considered in the top echelon of all Quintets since the inaugural release in 1976.” As for us, we consider it a superbly classy Bordeaux blend akin to the Grands Crus Classés of Margaux and old-school “Martha’s Vineyard” releases from Heitz. But ultimately, it is a singular red that should be proudly displayed in cellars that hold the world’s finest Cabernet blends. Up to six bottles per person.
NOTE: This small parcel just arrived stateside and has yet to be distributed to the broader US market. It is only available as a pre-offer. We expect our bottles to arrive in mid-November.
One of the main reasons Australia’s Yarra Valley holds prominence today is Mount Mary, a family-owned, single-vineyard estate that came to fruition in 1971 and surged onto the global scene shortly thereafter. Across 50 years of operating, three generations of the Middletons have lent a helping hand, and Sam Middleton—grandson to founders John and Marli—currently helms the winemaking operation.
Buried in southern Australia, about 20 or so miles east of Melbourne, you’ll find Mount Mary’s 40-acre estate vineyard planted to a whopping 18 grape varieties. The overall size of Mount Mary’s property more than doubles their vine plantings. This is strategic. Instead of covering each square foot with vines, they have instead opted for implementing recycling systems, wetland projects, and biodiversity that they hope ultimately leads to self-sufficiency in energy and water.
Today’s “Quintet”—their flagship wine—is a Bordeaux blend consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot, in that order. Each variety ferments separately on its skins for two weeks before undergoing a long aging regimen of 22 months in a combination of French barriques (30% new) and 1,500-liter barrels.
James Suckling considers the 2018 “Quintet” the greatest of his lifetime, and Sam Middleton believes it will go down as one of the all-time greats. Although we haven’t had the fortune of tasting many vintages, it’s hard to disagree with the buzz and profundity swirling about this wine. We opened our bottle and poured into Bordeaux stems without a decant just to see how approachable it was—we were stunned. This is such a silky, perfumed, and elegant Cabernet blend that feels like the lost love child of old-school Margaux and Heitz. The nose oozes classy aromas of black plum, redcurrant, black cherry skin, cacao, eucalyptus, menthol, candied rose petal, tobacco leaf, dried violet, and various baking spices. The palate (13% ABV!) is soft and generous with enough tannic structure to hint at its extreme cellaring capability. All that said, we urge you to either decant this multiple hours before consumption or stow away your bottles until 2023 at the very least. This will last decades, and is destined to evolve into one of the great Cabernet blends anywhere in the world. Enjoy.
