Product Description:
The Mount Mary Quintet 2016 exemplifies the quintessential Bordeaux-style blend, showcasing the best characteristics of the Yarra Valley. 2016 saw a very even spread of quality and consistency across all five Quintet varieties. This resulted in an extremely complex and compelling wine which shows brilliant purity of fruit. With a refined, perfumed lift, this wine offers vibrant red currant, mulberry, and blackcurrant notes alongside a delicate overlay of violets, cedar tobacco, and subtle hints of dried herbs. Medium-bodied with finesse, it is beautifully structured, with polished tannins and a long, balanced finish.
This is the fifth consecutive vintage where we have experienced near perfect conditions for these Quintet varieties. The 2016 Quintet is drinking superbly now and will be even more impressive with time.This vintage promises both immediate pleasure and exceptional cellaring potential, maturing gracefully over the next decade.
Maker:
Mount Mary Wines was founded by John and Marli Middleton in 1971, driven by a passion for producing fine, elegant wines that reflect the best qualities of French varietals. Having been inspired by their travels to Bordeaux and Burgundy in the 1960s, they sought to bring the same level of refinement and low-alcohol elegance to Australian wines. John Middleton, particularly motivated by a desire to craft a distinctive, refined Australian Cabernet, found the perfect site in the Yarra Valley for their dream project. Their vision led to the establishment of one of the most iconic wineries in the region, with Mount Mary continuing to be a family-owned estate that upholds a commitment to excellence. Today, the winery remains dedicated to producing handcrafted wines made from estate-grown fruit, ensuring full control over the quality and character of each bottle.
Philosophy:
Nestled in the heart of the Yarra Valley, the Mount Mary estate spans 40 acres and boasts a diverse range of soil types, from clay-rich loams to gravelly, ironstone soils. The vineyard is planted with 18 varieties, with an emphasis on classic Bordeaux and Burgundy varietals like Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. The region’s cool climate and unique terroir contribute to the slow, even ripening of the grapes, creating wines with exceptional balance and complexity. While not certified organic or biodynamic, Mount Mary’s vineyard philosophy emphasises sustainability and environmental stewardship. Practices such as minimal machinery use, composting, mulching, and cover cropping are employed to improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and reduce chemical use. By focusing on long-term sustainability, Mount Mary aims to produce wines that reflect the true character of the land while preserving it for future generations. The vineyard’s commitment to quality is evident in every bottle, ensuring that the wines consistently express the unique Yarra Valley terroir.
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Perfumed, Elegant, Spicy
Aromatic lift with ripe red to blackcurrants, mulberry, and violets, complemented by cedar, tobacco, dried herbs, and bay leaf.
Palate: Medium-Bodied, Finesse, Balanced
The palate is refined, showcasing ripe red currant, dark cherry, and mulberry, supported by well-integrated vanillin cedar, earthy herbs, and spicy bay leaf. Finely grained tannins enhance the elegant structure, finishing with superb length.
Finish: Long, Balanced, Understated
A refined, long-lasting aftertaste with a harmonious balance of fruit, spice, and subtle tannins.
Reviews + Accolades:
45% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 20% cabernet franc, 6% malbec, 4% petit verdot, separately vinified and matured in French oak (35% new) for 18-22 months before blending and bottling. The ultimate Bordeaux blend, both in theory and reality. Almost butterfly wing transparency, yet compelling intensity and length, the flavours spanning cassis to blueberry to plum and blackcurrant, all with a textured backing. Drink by 2041.
- James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion, 97 points
It’s only 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 26% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot. A different wine to the (relatively) throaty 2015, but not a lesser one.
Such perfume. Such finesse. It’s a flat out joy to smell, and to taste. Violets, cedar, red and black fruits, tobacco, pencils, marzipan and aniseed. Just into medium-bodied, well-etched and sure-footed, much like the kitten, who’s tongue the tannin sports. Delightful flavour of small red (mainly) and black berries, deft and precise, with a finish that’s long and crisp, which leaves no doubt about the quality of this wine. Line and length. Fragrance and poise. Subtle, yet thoroughly persuasive. Gentle rasp of tannin cleans the mouth. It’s a rare bird, this Cabernet. Drink 2019-2038+ - Gary Walsh – The Wine Front, 97 points
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot
Country - Australia
Region - Yarra Valley
Vintage - 2016
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.2%