David Moulton

The Climb

The later role at Cape Mentelle kept the same field-to-cellar line intact: chief of winemaking and viticulture / head of viticulture and winemaking.

Today

At Cape Mentelle in Margaret River, Australia, the chief of winemaking and viticulture / head of viticulture and winemaking role held by Moulton joins vineyard responsibility with cellar outcome. The practice is built on vines, soil, water, fruit, and sustainable viticulture rather than treating farming and winemaking as separate trades. Soil condition is named in practical terms: “Yes, the big driver for us is organic matter levels. We are looking for soils that are balanced but also with a lot of life in them. We continue to do a lot of cover cropping.” The priorities are agronomic and measurable in the vineyard: organic matter, balance, biological life, and cover cropping as the base condition for sound fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon sits at the center of one of Moulton’s signature works. Irrigation is treated as a tannin decision as much as a water decision. “I will water Cabernet here. I don’t want rustic tannins. We want polished tannins and we get that through happy, healthy plants.” The stated target is Cabernet Sauvignon with polished tannins, reached through plant health rather than correction after the fact.

Signature

The named signatures are Cape Mentelle Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon, Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon 1982, and Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon 1983.

In Their Words “Yes, the big driver for us is organic matter levels. We are looking for soils that are balanced but also with a lot of life in them. We continue to do a lot of cover cropping.” “I will water Cabernet here. I don’t want rustic tannins. We want polished tannins and we get that through happy, healthy plants.”

Recognition

Recognition here is tied to a specific working post: a local Margaret River professional entrusted with both viticulture and winemaking at Cape Mentelle since April 2014. In Moulton’s case, the craft line is not divided between field and cellar; it runs from soil life and cover cropping through Cabernet Sauvignon structure. Cape Mentelle Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon gives that recognition a named form. Sourced primarily from the original Wallcliffe Vineyard’s mature vines, it identifies the craft emphasis most clearly stated in the work: sustainable viticulture directed toward winemaking.