The Hohnen brothers established sixteen hectares of vine on the Cape Mentelle property in 1970, the focus was on red wines, mainly Shiraz. The special attributes of the terroir played the most significant role in the evolution of style. Soils are derived from decomposed granite and consist of gravelly loam over deep clay subsoil. All vines are vertically shoot positioned and managed to ensure balanced growth throughout the season. Shiraz is harvested and painstakingly berry sorted into a combination of open and static fermenters. Batches are treated to a course of plunging and pumpovers, basket pressed and transferred to large oak vats for completion of malolactic and a year's maturation.