2025 Cullen Amber Wine
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2025 Cullen Amber Wine

2025 Cullen Amber Wine

This year’s Amber is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon from the Cullen Vineyard. Hand-picked fruit was crushed to open fermenters and left on skins to build colour, texture, and vitality. The wine was then matured for 8 months in 27% new oak.

The result is fresh and vibrant, with an alluring complexity drawn from skin-contact fermentation, showing depth and energy that will continue to evolve beautifully with bottle age.

VINEYARD
100% Cullen Vineyard
VARIETIES
90% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Semillon.
HARVEST
Two picking days in February - 13th on a MOSH Full Moon, and 24th on a Fruit Day.
OAK
8 Months in 27% new oak
ALCOHOL
12.5%
Vintage Notes
Tasting Notes

Vintage 2025 at Cullen began in early February after a warm, dry growing season capped off by unusually warm conditions in May 2024 that triggered a rare “double budburst” in the Chardonnay – some shoots tried to wake up before winter, then again after, naturally reducing fruitfulness and leaving us with tiny crops and beautifully concentrated fruit. The was some bird pressure early, but the blossom came through halfway, and the birds seemed to disappear overnight.

The result is a set of whites with lifted perfume, texture and depth, slightly softer natural acidity than 2024 making them delicious even in their youth, and a Kevin John Chardonnay that looks especially powerful and refined.

There was no pause before the reds rolled in, and the long, even ripening delivered another brilliant season for Cabernet: dense, savoury and classically structured. Across the board, 2025 trades the sheer heat and power of 2024 for classical perfume and balance. These wines will drink beautifully now and evolve gracefully in the cellar. For more on the 2025 vintage click HERE

  • Colour: Deep gold & pale amber with green tinges.
  • Cellar: Drink now or up to 20years.
  • Bouquet: Welcoming citrus blossom notes of kumquat and blood orange, laced with a Negroni-like core, leading into sweet yet balanced stone fruit of yellow nectarine and fresh peach, with a gentle touch of wild thyme spice.
  • Food Roast chicken with thyme jus, caramelized garlic, and citrus zest.
  • Palate Bright minerality and savoury acidity are supported by a firm, layered core of floral and fruit density. Luminous notes of pink grapefruit and kumquat lead into fresh nectarine, with spices of wild thyme and lemon verbena. The finish is silky and poised, carrying clean liquorice notes reminiscent of Negroni on the back palate.

This year’s Amber is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Semillon from the Cullen Vineyard. Hand-picked fruit was crushed to open fermenters and left on skins to build colour, texture, and vitality. The wine was then matured for 8 months in 27% new oak.

The result is fresh and vibrant, with an alluring complexity drawn from skin-contact fermentation, showing depth and energy that will continue to evolve beautifully with bottle age.

Vintage Notes

Vintage 2025 at Cullen began in early February after a warm, dry growing season capped off by unusually warm conditions in May 2024 that triggered a rare “double budburst” in the Chardonnay – some shoots tried to wake up before winter, then again after, naturally reducing fruitfulness and leaving us with tiny crops and beautifully concentrated fruit. The was some bird pressure early, but the blossom came through halfway, and the birds seemed to disappear overnight.

The result is a set of whites with lifted perfume, texture and depth, slightly softer natural acidity than 2024 making them delicious even in their youth, and a Kevin John Chardonnay that looks especially powerful and refined.

There was no pause before the reds rolled in, and the long, even ripening delivered another brilliant season for Cabernet: dense, savoury and classically structured. Across the board, 2025 trades the sheer heat and power of 2024 for classical perfume and balance. These wines will drink beautifully now and evolve gracefully in the cellar. For more on the 2025 vintage click HERE

Tasting Notes
  • Colour: Deep gold & pale amber with green tinges.
  • Cellar: Drink now or up to 20years.
  • Bouquet: Welcoming citrus blossom notes of kumquat and blood orange, laced with a Negroni-like core, leading into sweet yet balanced stone fruit of yellow nectarine and fresh peach, with a gentle touch of wild thyme spice.
  • Food Roast chicken with thyme jus, caramelized garlic, and citrus zest.
  • Palate Bright minerality and savoury acidity are supported by a firm, layered core of floral and fruit density. Luminous notes of pink grapefruit and kumquat lead into fresh nectarine, with spices of wild thyme and lemon verbena. The finish is silky and poised, carrying clean liquorice notes reminiscent of Negroni on the back palate.
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