Mitolo Wines is a family owned winery, established in 1999 by Frank Mitolo. His vision is to create individual, handcrafted premium wines built on passion and an uncompromising commitment to quality. This is what defines Mitolo Wines.
Winemaker, Ben Glaetzer became a partner in the business in 2001. The fusion of Frank’s intimate knowledge of the land and business acumen and Ben’s winemaking talent, has resulted in the creation of unique wines that have been met with great critical acclaim. Their Cabernet Sauvignons are fascinating wines. Unlike most Australians they take an Italian approach and dry some of their grapes on racks, just as they do for Amarone.
The grapes come from the Willunga district of McLaren Vale, where there are heavy grey loam soils over sandstone, intermixed with black Biscay clay. These soils combined with the maritime climate, contribute to an even ripening period and the development of rich fruit flavours and ripe tannins. Yield is around 4 tons an acre.
This Cabernet Sauvignon is made with 20% of the grapes being dried. The grapes are handpicked into small crates and dried for up to 8 weeks before crushing. The process creates a complex and structured wine with very silky tannins. Fans of Australian Cabernet should take note that none of Mitolo’s flagship Cabernet ‘Serpico’ was made in 2006, all their finest fruit being declassified into Jester.
This is outstanding Cabernet, a quality versus price ratio unseen for almost a decade.
The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon “Jester” includes 20% dried grapes in the style of Amarone. Purple-colored, it has a fragrant bouquet of black fruits, tar, and violets. This leads to a smooth-textured, layered, dense wine with enough structure to evolve for 4-6 years. It has a long, pure finish and can be enjoyed over the next 15-20 years. It is a superb value in Cabernet Sauvignon. 92 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.