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CULLEN WINES Margaret River, Western Australia "Diana Cullen created the styles which are still made at Cullen today. She was a meticulous person with natural talent and style. For her, cleanliness was next to godliness and she had great success right from the start. In her first year of winemaking, Di won a trophy at the Perth Show for her wooded Sauvignon Blanc. She pioneered the use of quality oak in white wine and blended Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon at a time when only varietal Cabernet would sell. Vanya Cullen, daughter of Diana and Kevin, took over the senior winemaking responsibilities in 1989, and it has been her job, with the team at Cullen, to fine-tune the styles that Di created. A very important shift in this has been the closer liaison and communication between the vineyard and the winery. In this sense, they are making the wine in the vineyards and any refinements to the Cullen style now comes from the vineyard. The vineyard at Cullen Estate is organically farmed and un-irrigated and has "A" grade certification with the Biological Farmers Association, after three years in conversion. Its conversion to Biodynamic Certification should be in 2004. The Mangan and Ellens Ridge vineyards are also in conversion to organic viticulture." |
Wine Advocate
"94 pts ... The 2007 Chardonnay Kevin John was fermented with native yeasts in 100% new French oak. It then spent an additional 10 months in new oak. Medium straw-colored, it displays an enthralling bouquet of apple blossoms, mineral, pain grille, lemon meringue, and tropical notes. Medium-bodied, creamy, and complex on the palate with the oak totally integrated, this savory, rich, vibrant Chardonnay will evolve for several years and drink well for a decade. Cullen Wines is certified biodynamic both in its vineyards and winery. The attention to detail required to achieve certification shows in the wines." --12/09 Stephen Tanzer
"92 pts ... Light, green-tinged gold. Pungent, exotically perfumed bouquet of orange, white flowers, cannabis and smoky minerals. Musky peach, pear and dried citrus aromas flavors are complicated by flowers and spicy herbs. Concentrated and precise, with a dusty impression of extract and a strong, mineral-driven finish. This was raised in 100% new French barriques but it wears its oak gracefully." -- 07/09 The Independent Weekly
"This is the best Australian chardonnay I’ve had. Numbers nuts might like to know its vital statistics are pH 3; natural acid 10g./I; harvested on a full moon fruit day and fermented dry as the Valley of Bones at 13.5 per cent. It is unlike any chardonnay I’ve tasted before. Pepper, ginger, lemon and wet coffee-rock aromas sort of slice at you from the glass. It’s as rapier stiff as any riesling, with an authority and weight that are a formidable, confronting delight. Grown and made biodynamically by Vanya Cullen, it manages both force and finesse in transfixing harmony. And it will live for many years." --06/09 Wine Advocate
"New Vintage! '06, '05 rated 94 pts." Winemaker's Notes
"Complex amalgam of attractive lime juice, elderflower and apricot aromas, with just the right touch of clean background vanillin oak. The bouquet becomes increasingly like that of a great Burgundian wine the longer this wine remains in the glass Elegant, pure and intense. Delicious lime fruit flavours fill out the middle palate, which is backed by attractive and subtle barrel ferment oak flavours. The finish is crisp, long and lingering." 13.5% alc. |
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Winemaker's Notes
"Color is rich mulberry red with crimson tinges. Fragrant, perfumed, complex and seductive with elegant, long and persistent, with the rich blackcurrant cassis, wild berry and cherry characters perfectly integrated with the vanillin oak. A complete and perfectly balanced palate. Its structure, length and persistence of flavor suggest a cellaring life of at least 15 years." Stephen Tanzer
"93 pts ... a blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 4% each petit verdot and malbec) Deep, bright ruby. Intensely aromatic nose exudes wild strawberry, bitter cherry, rose and patchouli oil, cigarbox, black pepper and peat.Concentrated and quite densely packed, displaying a collection of red fruit flavors, especially ripe redcurrant, along with vanilla, cinnamon and licorice candy. Manages the neat trick of being intense yet delicate, and dense and very ripe but also suave and lively. The finish is bright, the tannins silky and fine-grained." --07/05 13% alc. |
