2025 Elvie Clarke SBS
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2025 Elvie Clarke SBS

2025 Elvie Clarke SBS

This wine honours Kevin John Cullen’s mother, Elvie Alice Clarke, daughter of Ephraim and Louisa Clarke. A gifted pianist and enchanting storyteller, Elvie’s musical career was cut short by the first world war. The wine is a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon and 5% Verdelho from the Mangan Vineyard. Hand-harvested on Biodynamic Fruit and Flower Days, the wine was naturally fermented without acid additions allowing the lands voice to sing loudly in the glass.

VINEYARD
100% Mangan Vineyard
VARIETIES
70% Sauvignon Blanc 25% Semillon and 5% Verdelho
HARVEST
Across four pickings between 6th February and 4th March, with three Fruit Days and one Flower Day, according to the biodynamic calendar.
OAK
Nil
ALCOHOL
13.5%
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 Light green, pale straw with creamy tinges
  • Cellar Enjoy now or for up to 15 years
  • Bouquet White florals of gardenia and alyssum with citrus blossom, beeswax, brioche and lemon curd, finishing withpear, apple, quince and a hint of dried mango.
  • Palate Bright and expansive, lively citrus acidity leads with pink grapefruit, kaffir lime and lemon curd. The palate opens into beautifully integrated layers of complexity, shaped by phenolic tension and finishing long with juicy pear, apple and yellow nectarine.
  • Food Ricotta gnocchi layered with pear, fresh herbs, and a light olive oil emulsion.

This wine honours Kevin John Cullen’s mother, Elvie Alice Clarke, daughter of Ephraim and Louisa Clarke. A gifted pianist and enchanting storyteller, Elvie’s musical career was cut short by the first world war. The wine is a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon and 5% Verdelho from the Mangan Vineyard. Hand-harvested on Biodynamic Fruit and Flower Days, the wine was naturally fermented without acid additions allowing the lands voice to sing loudly in the glass.

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 Light green, pale straw with creamy tinges
  • Cellar Enjoy now or for up to 15 years
  • Bouquet White florals of gardenia and alyssum with citrus blossom, beeswax, brioche and lemon curd, finishing withpear, apple, quince and a hint of dried mango.
  • Palate Bright and expansive, lively citrus acidity leads with pink grapefruit, kaffir lime and lemon curd. The palate opens into beautifully integrated layers of complexity, shaped by phenolic tension and finishing long with juicy pear, apple and yellow nectarine.
  • Food Ricotta gnocchi layered with pear, fresh herbs, and a light olive oil emulsion.
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