2023 Kevin John
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2023 Kevin John

2023 Kevin John

The 2023 Kevin John is a powerful, bold, textural, example of a point in the journey with no end of discovering terroir through biodynamics. Picked across three weeks according to the biodynamic calendar, capturing fruit and flower days, from a full Moon, Moon opposite Saturn astral event to the new moon flower day in late February. It is truely a benchmark in Wilyabrup Chardonnay.

Hand harvested, whole bunch basket pressed.  Fermented in concrete egg, amphorae and biodynamic puncheons. Eight months maturation in biodynamic oak puncheons of which 80% were new, bottled without fining or filtration. Made from 100% dry farmed biodynamically certified Wente/Gin Gin clone planted on their 1976-1988. Yield 1.7 tons per hectare. Will age well for 20 years under screwcap in the new lightweight bottle.

VINEYARD
100% Cullen Vineyard
VARIETIES
100% Chardonnay
HARVEST
Picked on fruit and flower days between the 6th and 24th February including one pick on a full Moon, Moon opposite Saturn Fruit day and a Super Moon New Moon flower day.
OAK
8 months in 80% new oak
ALCOHOL
13.5%
Vintage Notes
Tasting Notes
Reviews

Vintage 2023 was a low yielding vintage which resulted in some stunning grapes and hence quality wine. In particular Cabernet Sauvignon exhibited the best typicity of varietal manifestation. The 52 year old vines consistently yield well year on year out.

The growing conditions until December were cold and wet and due to the negative Indian dipole and La Niña effects finishing in December 2022 we had an unprecedented dry spell from December until the end of harvest.

Small berry size particularly in white grape varieties produced beautifully balanced wines; Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet and Malbec all outstanding.

  • Colour Pure straw
  • Cellar Enjoy now or for up to 20 years
  • Bouquet White flower, orange blossom, peach, nectarine vanilla, curry leaf, dried pear, grapefruit.
  • Food White fish, crayfish, prawns, herring
  • Palate Tightly bound fruit with phenolic tension at front sliding through to peach, nectarine, grapefruit flavours. Fantastic fruit power and length and firm clean finish.

‘Great vintage, great wine. It’s the perfect combination. This is right up there with any previous
Cullen Chardonnay, and if someone argued it to be, the best wouldn’t put up much of a fight. Follows the Cullen biodynamic approach which sees the fruit harvested by hand, whole bunch basket pressed and then fermented in a mix of
concrete eggs, amphorae and biodynamic puncheons. The attention to biodynamics
is one of total commitment. Engaging aromas of white peach and cumquat with a gentle vanilla bean and lemon curd character. An edge of grapefruit and quince with a sliced pear character adds further complexity. The palate is an incredibly powerful expression of a stone fruit combination complemented by a sprinkle of turmeric and lemon zest. The dry savoury and slightly chalky finish
completes a remarkable wine. Where does it sit in the Cullen gallery? You be the judge.’

99 points. Ray Jordan

‘From the excellent 2023 vintage in Margaret River, the Kevin John Chardonnay is Cullen’s ‘standard’ Chardonnay, and what a wine. Never less than thrilling these days, the fruit for this wine was harvested over a three week period and then whole bunch pressed before fermentation in a mix of vessels – biodynamic puncheons, amphorae and a concrete egg. Eight months maturation in the
puncheons, 80% of which were new. The wine is 100% Gin Gin clone. Balance, elegance and complexity, even at this early stage, are the hallmarks for here.
Great energy, the nose gives us notes of nuts/cashews, peaches, stonefruit, a hint of riverstones and orange blossoms.
Vanilla, florals, honeycomb and a hint of crisp pear. The focus here is superb,
through to an impressively long finish. Expect this to drink superbly for at least fifteen years.’

98 points. Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

The 2023 Kevin John is a powerful, bold, textural, example of a point in the journey with no end of discovering terroir through biodynamics. Picked across three weeks according to the biodynamic calendar, capturing fruit and flower days, from a full Moon, Moon opposite Saturn astral event to the new moon flower day in late February. It is truely a benchmark in Wilyabrup Chardonnay.

Hand harvested, whole bunch basket pressed.  Fermented in concrete egg, amphorae and biodynamic puncheons. Eight months maturation in biodynamic oak puncheons of which 80% were new, bottled without fining or filtration. Made from 100% dry farmed biodynamically certified Wente/Gin Gin clone planted on their 1976-1988. Yield 1.7 tons per hectare. Will age well for 20 years under screwcap in the new lightweight bottle.

Vintage Notes

Vintage 2023 was a low yielding vintage which resulted in some stunning grapes and hence quality wine. In particular Cabernet Sauvignon exhibited the best typicity of varietal manifestation. The 52 year old vines consistently yield well year on year out.

The growing conditions until December were cold and wet and due to the negative Indian dipole and La Niña effects finishing in December 2022 we had an unprecedented dry spell from December until the end of harvest.

Small berry size particularly in white grape varieties produced beautifully balanced wines; Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet and Malbec all outstanding.

Tasting Notes
  • Colour Pure straw
  • Cellar Enjoy now or for up to 20 years
  • Bouquet White flower, orange blossom, peach, nectarine vanilla, curry leaf, dried pear, grapefruit.
  • Food White fish, crayfish, prawns, herring
  • Palate Tightly bound fruit with phenolic tension at front sliding through to peach, nectarine, grapefruit flavours. Fantastic fruit power and length and firm clean finish.
Reviews

‘Great vintage, great wine. It’s the perfect combination. This is right up there with any previous
Cullen Chardonnay, and if someone argued it to be, the best wouldn’t put up much of a fight. Follows the Cullen biodynamic approach which sees the fruit harvested by hand, whole bunch basket pressed and then fermented in a mix of
concrete eggs, amphorae and biodynamic puncheons. The attention to biodynamics
is one of total commitment. Engaging aromas of white peach and cumquat with a gentle vanilla bean and lemon curd character. An edge of grapefruit and quince with a sliced pear character adds further complexity. The palate is an incredibly powerful expression of a stone fruit combination complemented by a sprinkle of turmeric and lemon zest. The dry savoury and slightly chalky finish
completes a remarkable wine. Where does it sit in the Cullen gallery? You be the judge.’

99 points. Ray Jordan

‘From the excellent 2023 vintage in Margaret River, the Kevin John Chardonnay is Cullen’s ‘standard’ Chardonnay, and what a wine. Never less than thrilling these days, the fruit for this wine was harvested over a three week period and then whole bunch pressed before fermentation in a mix of vessels – biodynamic puncheons, amphorae and a concrete egg. Eight months maturation in the
puncheons, 80% of which were new. The wine is 100% Gin Gin clone. Balance, elegance and complexity, even at this early stage, are the hallmarks for here.
Great energy, the nose gives us notes of nuts/cashews, peaches, stonefruit, a hint of riverstones and orange blossoms.
Vanilla, florals, honeycomb and a hint of crisp pear. The focus here is superb,
through to an impressively long finish. Expect this to drink superbly for at least fifteen years.’

98 points. Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot

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