Margaret River: Vintage Wine Tasting & Cellar Comparison

What Does a 20-Year-Old Margaret River Wine Actually Taste Like?

You taste six wines spanning decades of Cape Mentelle's releases, learning how vintage conditions and cellaring change flavour profiles over time. The small group format and barrel hall setting let you ask questions without rushing, and you'll handle exclusive club wines most visitors never see. You leave understanding how to decant at home and what to look for when comparing old and new bottles.

Step-by-step itinerary

Vintage wine tasting experience

• Join small group tasting
• Compare past and present vintages
• Learn about vintage conditions
• Discover winemaking and flavor profiles
• Understand cellaring potential
• Learn decanting techniques

The experience

You walk into Cape Mentelle's Barrel Hall and the question hits differently when there's a glass of 1998 sitting next to a 2023 in front of you. The tasting compares past and present vintages side by side, not to prove one is better, but to show you what time actually does to the wine. Their staff walks through vintage conditions, winemaking choices, how the flavours have shifted, what cellaring potential means when you're holding it in your hand. It's the kind of detail most tastings skip over.

The group stays small, max six people, which means you're not standing in a crowd trying to hear over other conversations. You'll taste six wines total, including some that only go to their wine club members. The ones you can't just walk in and buy. Part of the tasting covers the practical stuff too: how to decant properly, what actually happens when you do it, how to get the best results when you're pouring at home. It's less about sounding knowledgeable and more about understanding what's in the glass.

The Barrel Hall itself has that quiet weight to it: wood, age, the smell of wine storage. You're tasting in the space where the wines have been sitting, which does something to how you experience them. The whole thing runs intimate and unhurried, which is why people come back to Margaret River for this kind of tasting instead of the larger group experiences elsewhere.

What’s included

• Tasting of six wines including past and current Cape Mentelle vintages.
• expert-led comparison of how wines change with age and cellaring.
• instruction on decanting technique and home entertaining.
• access to wine club exclusive releases.
• small group experience with max six people in the Barrel Hall.

Before you book

Days and timesFriday and SaturdayDeparts at 14:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Cape Mentelle Vineyards Limited

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand how wine actually changes over time rather than just taste what's current, and if you prefer a small group where you can ask questions without feeling rushed.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

How long does the Back Vintage tasting take?

The reference content does not specify a duration. Contact Cape Mentelle directly for timing.

Can I buy the wines I taste?

Some wines are exclusive to wine club members, so availability varies. The tasting includes club-only releases, but you can ask the staff about purchasing options for other wines.

Is the Barrel Hall accessible if I use a wheelchair?

Yes, the venue is wheelchair accessible and transportation options are also wheelchair accessible.

What's the difference between this tasting and a standard wine tasting?

This one compares the same wines across different years. You taste how a wine changes over 10, 15, or 20 years. Most tastings show you current releases only.

Do I need wine knowledge to join?

No. The staff guides you through tasting technique and explains vintage conditions and winemaking choices, so it works whether you're new to wine or experienced.

Can service animals come?

Yes, service animals are allowed.