2021 Peter Lehmann Mentor Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley

Named in honour of Peter Lehmann himself, a renowned mentor, the fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon is drawn from old vines from across a selection of Barossa sub-regions. It is bursting with aromas of peak-summer blackberries and cherries. Spicy and rich, there’s dark chocolate and sweet baking spices reminiscent of plum cake, fresh from the oven, served warm with a scoop of vanilla-bean ice cream. The opulence continues on the palate and I am delighted that this has been achieved without a hint of alcohol warmth. There’s an added burst of fresher raspberries and red currant flavours with fine tea-leaf tannins. This will age beautifully but is also a joy now; give it a vigorous splash into a decanter to release its potential. Drink 2024–2030.

93 points Nicole Bilson for Wine Pilot, July 2024

Remarkably dense, youthful purple colour that stains the glass. Blackberry jam aroma, mint/eucalyptus traces, straightforward and bold. A big, solid, very ripe expression of cabernet with a monolithic personality and a strange kind of simplicity in spite of its generous flavour and sweet/ripe fruit. There is real depth here, concentrated fruit and tannin—a wine that will reward cellaring. Drink 2026–2039.

92 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, August 2024

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Mentor has an attractive core of powerful, refined aromas of fruit pastille and gravel with a pretty lift of violet. This is a tightly packed and extractive style with firm tannins delivering a detailed, slightly rustic finish. The 2021 needs time to hit its straps. Drink 2029–2036.

92 points Angus Hughson for Vinous, August 2025

Trophy Best Cabernet Sauvignon and Gold AWC Vienna 2025 Spring Tasting

Gold Royal Queensland Wine Awards 2023

Gold Perth Royal Food Awards 2024

Peter Lehmann mentored generations of Barossa winemakers over a fifty-year career. It is a barrel selection of the best Peter Lehmann Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon from a vintage. Sub-regional parcels of old vine fruit area vinified separately, fermented on skins for up to two weeks and matured for 18 months in French oak hogsheads of which 40% are new. Released with five years of bottle age, it arrives ready to drink but with the structure to continue developing.

The 2021 vintage produced fruit of real character and composure. Barossa Cabernet can be underestimated warmer climate style, and the Mentor consistently makes the case for the region's ability to produce wines that are simultaneously  generous and structured.

Deep garnet, the nose shows blackcurrant, dark chocolate and blackberry with graphite, juniper spice and a thread of steely mineral. The palate is full-bodied and firm with concentrated dark fruit, dusty tannins and a long finish of cinnamon and carob. Balanced, poised and built to reward patience.

This is firmly in the steak and all the trimmings territory, or maybe something to be enjoyed with aged hard cheese. Worth decanting for an hour before serving.