1999 CHARDONNAY

  
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Complexity
and texture are hallmarks of the Cullen Chardonnay. The fruit for this
wine is harvested at varying degrees throughout vintage to contribute
a range of flavours.

The wine is fermented with natural yeasts and maturated in French oak
for seven to ten months.  In order to preserve flavour and texture
the wine has, if any at all, a light fining and filtration just prior
to bottling.

Cullen Chardonnay will cellar well for up to ten years.

 

  
 
     
Tasting notes   Reviews
     

This outstanding Chardonnay
was picked at optimal sugar levels of 13.5 to 14% Baumé.
The wine was fermented in new French oak using 100% wild yeast and
underwent its malolactic fermentation in barrel. Just over half
of the oak was new, while the rest was one year old. The yeast lees
were stirred once monthly for eight months. A minimum of filtering
was carried out and the wine was allowed to settle before bottling.

Colour: Bright straw with strong green
hues
Bouquet: Intense attractive and complex blend of citric,
guava and smoky barrel oak aromas
Palate: Delicious and multifaceted. The rich creamy
texture fully embraces the multiple layers of complex flavours.
The palate is long and lingering
Cellaring: Five to ten years
Food: Seafood, pasta, chicken, veal and soft cheeses
  James Halliday’s
top 100, The Weekend Australian
November 25-26, 2000

1999 Cullen Chardonnay Estate grown on
30 year old vines and hand crafted by Vanya Cullen, who is equally
at home with Montrachet. A mix of melon, fig and stone fruit combines
with subtle, gently smoky oak on the bouquet: the palate has some
similarities the Cape Mentelle but the fruit is more vibrant.
Drink: now-2009 With: Marron

Winewise May – June 2000

Finely austere and more Chablis-like than previous Cullen Chardonnays,
its delicate and lightly smokey fragrance of wet mineral stone,
lemons, pineapple and hints of tropical fruit precedes a tight,
reserved palate of length and austerity. Mealy and grainy influences
marry with mango and melon fruit.
Drink 207 – 2011.
 
       

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