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The quality of this
Cullen vineyard wine, and its counterpart blend from the family’s
Mangan vineyard, provide ample evidence that 2007 was a great vintage
for Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon in Margaret River. However, these
two outstanding wines differ markedly in style, which, in part,
reflects substantial differences in the terrain of the two vineyards,
even though those vineyards are separated only by a fence. It has
now become clear that the use of biodynamic practices by Cullens
is encouraging the vines in each of their vineyards to express their
own individuality in terms of the characteristics of the fruit they
produce. However, the differences in style also reflect differences
in the compositions of the blends. Thus, in 2007, the Sauvignon
Blanc produced on the Cullen Vineyard was particularly outstanding
and thus chosen to dominate the blend from that vineyard, whereas
the Semillon harvested from the Mangan vineyard was selected to
play that role for that vineyard.
The 2007 Cullen Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon was made by
blending 80% Sauvignon Blanc with 20% Semillon. Half of the wine
was matured for three months in French barriques, two thirds of
which were new.
| Colour: |
Vibrant pale straw with strong
green tinges |
| Bouquet: |
Very attractive combination
of intense fresh pineapple, tropical fruit and freshly-cut grass. |
| Palate: |
Rich and powerful but
elegant, combining mango, pawpaw, yeasty and pineapple flavours,
the last of which is a conspicuous feature of Sauvignon Blanc
on the Cullen vineyard. The lifted fruit characteristics in
the middle palate lead into a long and lingering acid finish.
A complete wine. |
| Cellaring: |
Already perfectly integrated and developing
very well, but will continue to gain complexity for another
10 years. |
| Food: |
Wonderful now as an aperitif and will always
provide a great accompaniment for asparagus, oysters and Dhufish. |
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Greg Duncan
Powell, Full Bottle,
The Sydney Morning Herald, Spectrum, 10-11
November
The price tag is pretty steep for a Semillon Sauvignon
Blanc blend but this one is special. There’s a nervy acid
backbone that keeps the line and length straight and true and the
aromatics and textures are subtle and first class. Great with Balmain
bug tails.
Gary Walsh – Winorama,
30 November 2007
This is a blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon
of which half takes a three month spell in French barriques of which
two thirds are new. Never mind all that though because this wine
is just wow!. So wow! it impressed the pants off me and as a result
I am sitting here typing up this note in my underpants…
Aromas of passionfruit, fresh pineapple, cut grass,
fennel, cream and spice. Multi-layered it strikes that rare and
perfect balance between herbaceous and fruity elements. Fresh, poised
and precise it has crystalline acidity and a lightly creamy textured
palate with flavours of tropical fruit, grapefruit, grass and spice.
There’s also a funky earthy character adding complexity. Seamless
and long with a dry spicy finish – this is just about as good as
it gets. 96 Points
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