Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate - November 2005
"For a winery only established in 1999 and dedicated to hand-crafted artisinal wines, Mitolo has consistently been a revelation in my tastings. Thanks to owner Frank Mitolo and his brilliant winemaker, Ben Glaetzer, the quality has been truly splendid."

Mitolo Wines is a family owned company, which was established by Frank and Simone Mitolo. Their vision was to create individual and handcrafted wines which are built on passion and uncompromising commitment to quality. Frank’s Italian heritage provided him with an early introduction to wine appreciation and winemaking, while his roots are rich in horticultural history spanning three generations. With the active involvement and support of his wife Simone and their children Gemma, Alexander and Marco being their inspiration, their first wine G.A.M., a 2000 McLaren Vale Shiraz was produced.

The company was founded in 1999 and has, in a very short space of time, become one of Australia’s hottest wineries. It has been lauded by the Press, with James Halliday saying that ‘Frank Mitolo has methodically covered every aspect of high-quality winemaking…’ and Huon Hooke commenting that the Mitolo wines ‘…are genuinely low-yield, majority old-vine, handmade wines of real concentration and opulence…to put it simply, the wines are great.’

Frank Mitolo’s partner is winemaker Ben Glaetzer. Ben is obsessed with quality. He feels that one of the key factors in the soft, supple fruit that characterises the Mitolo wines is the fact that they pick on flavour, as this gives them the ripe tannins they are looking for. These ripe tannins, allied to a vibrant fruit, are the key characteristics of the Mitolo wines.

Sourced from Willunga in McLaren Vale, South Australia the wines include the Jester wines (a Shiraz, a Cabernet and a Rose) which are textured and fruit forward, and at a price and quality that is hard to find from McLaren Vale. The Savitar, GAM (both 100% Shiraz) and Serpico (‘Amarone’ style Cabernet)are all stand-out wines.

The vineyards are situated in the most southern tip of the McLaren Vale region at Willunga, overlooking the coast. The vineyard soil types are heavy grey loam over sandstone soils, with black cracking Biscay clays intermixed. These soils have excellent water-holding capacity and require minimal irrigation. Being so close to the coast it experiences slightly warmer days in summer than the Vales giving incredible fruit intensity and excellent tannin ripeness.

It also has the advantage of cool afternoon breezes and nights which helps to maintain acid levels in the grapes which allow extended maturation on the vine and contribute to the complexity of the flavour profile.

Click on the link to buy these wines: -

		'GAM' McLaren Vale Shiraz A dense ruby/purple colour. It possesses layers of dried spice, coffee, blackcurrant and the wine displays fullness, freshness and seamless oak integration. The G.A.M. Shiraz comes from the Chinese Block vineyard which is located in the Willunga district at the southern end of McLaren Vale. The soils, which are heavy grey loam soils over sandstone, intermixed with black Biscay clay, combined with a maritime climate, contribute to an even ripening period and the development of rich fruit flavours and ripe tannins. Each parcel of fruit for G.A.M. was fermented on skins for 10 days at cool and warm temperatures. The cool temperature assists in making the finished wine more approachable and the warm temperature gives more structure. G.A.M. uses a blend of the two. The wine was then pressed and underwent partial barrel fermentation followed by natural malolactic fermentation before racking. >>> more info
		Jester, McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon This wine has a beautiful fragrance of cassis, blackberry, mulberry and plum aromas. The palate is rich and robust with excellent concentration, complex fruit and integrated oak. There is loads of dark fruits on offer with hints of earth and mocha. The soft and supple tannins lead in to a long finish. 20% of the grapes were left to dry on the 10kg drying racks for 8 weeks in the traditional Amarone manner to concentrate flavour. The fruit for Jester is fermented on skins for 5 to 6 days at a cool temperature to enhance the pure berry fruit. The wine is then pressed and undergoes partial barrel fermentation. A natural malolactic fermentation is completed before the wine is racked. This wine w ill age reliably under screwcap for 5-8 years >>> more info
		Jester, McLaren Vale Shiraz An animated and bright nose showing flashes of black pepper and stone fruits. Rich and full bodied on the palate with flavours of blackcurrant, anise and mixed spice. The palate is multilayered and finishes with supple tannin.
		Each parcel of fruit for Jester is fermented on skins for 5 to 6 days at a cool temperature to enhance the pure berry fruit. The wine is then pressed and undergoes partial barrel fermentation. A natural malolactic fermentation is completed before the wine is racked. Aged in 2-4 year old French oak for 9 months. This wine w ill age reliably under cork for 5-7 years. >>> more info
		'Savitar' McLaren Vale Shiraz Displays intense plum/garnet colour. The nose shows masses of smoky cedar, plums, cherry and dried herbs. Full bodied and opulent yet managing to maintatin supple, refined tannin and a clean, fresh finish.
		Savitar was fermented on skins for 15 days at 28-32°C to soften the skins and release the juice. A slightly longer period on skins ensured a tighter overall structure. Only the best barrels are selected for the final Savitar blend. After pressing, the wine underwent partial barrel fermentation followed by natural malolactic fermentation before racking. This wine will age reliably for 10 to 15 years with careful cellaring. >>> more info
		'Serpico' McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon Dark Ruby red. The nose shows rustic traditional earth and cedary spice with Christmas pudding characters and a hint of coffee bean. The mid palate is complex with pillars of richness and savoury tannins. The seamless integration of oak, tannin and fruit allow this distinguished wine to be drunk at release. The grapes were left to dry on the 10kg drying racks for 7 weeks and 3 days in the traditional Amarone manner resulting in 30% bunch weight loss. The wine was fermented on skins for 2 weeks and then left to macerate for a further 3 weeks prior to pressing. This wine w ill age reliably for 10 to 15 years with careful cellaring. >>> more info
		'Jester' McLaren Vale Sangiovese Rosé Red cherry colour. The nose features a fragrant combination of red cherry and strawberry aromas. It is rich, juicy and has plenty of mouth-coating flavour. The palate displays layers of red berry fruit which combine with mineral notes, leading to a long dry finish. It has excellent depth of fruit which is carried through to the back palate by the clean acidity and just a touch of tannin to avoid any cloying. A pretty and elegant wine. A combination of whole berry and low fermentation temperatures contribute a lifted bouquet. The juice is left on skins for 3 days, then using free run only, drained off and fermentation occurs at low temperatures for 3 weeks. The wine is then cold stabilised and filtered before bottling. Drink Fresh. Will age reliably under screw cap for 2 years. >>> more info

PRESS REVIEWS

Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate

November 2005

For a winery only established in 1999 and dedicated to hand-crafted artisinal wines, “Mitolo has consistently been a revelation in my tastings. Thanks to owner Frank Mitolo and his brilliant winemaker, Ben Glaetzer, the quality has been truly splendid.

Jester Cabernet 2004 McLaren Vale 91 points
“…it is hard to find a better Cabernet for the price than Mitolo’s 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Jester which spent nine months in used French oak prior to bottling.
Approximately 20% of the grapes were dried on racks (a traditional Amarone technique) in order to concentrate the flavor. Yet there is no pruny or raisiny character to the wine. It is a dense ruby/purple tinged offering displaying loads of roasted meat, blackcurrant and plum aromas, deep, medium to full-bodied flavors, sweet tannin, and an expansive savory texture. This is a stunning Cabernet Sauvignon
to drink now and over the next 7-8 years.”

Serpico Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 McLaren Vale 94 points
“The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Serpico (aged 12 months in new American hogsheads as well as small French barrels) comes from the Willunga district of the southern sector of McLaren Vale near the ocean). It exhibits a dense purple color in addition to an extraordinary bouquet of smoke, blueberries, black raspberries and cassis.
Superbly endowed with admirable purity, sweet tannin, a floral/fruity component and a fabulously layered, concentrated mid-palate as well as finish. It is one of the best Cabernet Sauvignon’s to ever emerge from South Australia. It should age well for 10-15 years.”

G.A.M. Shiraz 2004 McLaren Vale 97 points
“Aged 18 months in primarily French oak, the 2004 Shriaz G.A.M. is an exceptional example of a precise yet full-flavored, concentrated Shiraz. Its gorgeous perfume of blueberries, blackberries, camphor, licorice and pain grillé is followed by an inky/blue/purple-colored wine offering superb purity, full bodied richness and gorgeous depth as well as texture. This fabulous effort is another example of Ben Glaetzer’s brilliant talents. It should drink well for 15 years.”

Savitar Shiraz 2004 McLaren Vale 98 points
“Bordering on perfection is the 2004 Shiraz Savitar. Made from 30 to 50 years old vines and aged 18 months in 100% new French hogsheads as well as smaller barriques, it boasts an opaque purple color, and an extraordinary nose of acacia flowers, blueberries, raspberries and blacker fruits, melted licorice and graphite. It possesses amazing intensity, great equilibrium, a fabulous multi-layered mid-palate and a blockbuster finish. This extraordinary Shiraz should prove to be one of the legends of southern Australia’s great 2004 vintage. Drink it over the next 12-15 years.”