2019 Mentor Cabernet Sauvignon, Peter Lehmann, 6x750ml

Critics Score: 95

Publication: Dave Brookes, Halliday's Wine Companion

Drinking Dates: Now-2033

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 mentored countless people over his 50-year career, and this wine is named in his honour. Fruit was selected from premium vineyards from a number of Barossa sub-regions including Stonewell, Tanunda, and Light Pass. These vineyards are all planted with old vines which yield a very low amount of fruit.

The grapes were 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 15 months, 45% of which were new and the remainder 2-3 years old.