Cullen Wines Kevin John Chardonnay 2022

Grown in the ancient soils of Wilyabrup the wines come from the heart of the land rather than the mind of the winemaker. The wines are made with little or no intervention. This means indigenous yeast, no additions of any kind, minimal oak use and fining. Quality is paramount in this process and every step in winemaking incorporates this philosophy. The wines can only be as good as the grapes, the quality and uniqueness of Cullen Wines comes in part from the vineyard with the role of the winemaker is to act as caretaker to the fruit – to understand and to realise the full potential of the vineyard and the fruit which comes into the winery.

The soils at Cullen are old, granite and gravely sandy loam, overlaying lateritic subsoils. The vines are dry farmed, helping to ensure maximum fruit quality, and are both pruned and harvested by hand. Low yields enable the flavours of the grapes to develop fully. Since 1971 when the Cullen Estate was planted, chemical intervention was minimal and the family’s concern for the environment paramount. Cullen is now carbon neutral and certified bio-dynamic. Vanya Cullen was awarded Halliday Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year 2020.

This wine is harvested in Kevin John’s 100th birth year. Harvested from 3 separate Wente clone chardonnay blocks, planted in 1976 and 1988, on their own roots, yielding 1.8 tonnes per hectare. 2022 vintage grew wines of immense perfume and texture. The cooler season and low yields ensured that the health of the vines and hence the fruit quality. Exceptionally good for chardonnay. Hand Harvested around the biodynamic calendar over 8 different harvest times from the 3rd to the 21st February. The fermentation took place in 50% new biodynamic puncheons, where it was left to mature for a further 6 months. Battonage during fermentation and no fining filtration or cold stabilisation to bottle.

Brilliant straw in colour with strong green tinges, the bouquet is full of lemon and sea spray mist, lime flowers and kaffir lime, dried pear and figs. The palate leads with crunchy vibrant mineral acidity which keeps the flavours, lingering on and on with a back palate of lemon sherbet kicking in to enliven the experience. Dried pear, orange blossom, balance and poise, what a great symphony of flavours coming together all at once on the taste buds. Enjoy now or for up to 15 years.

This wine is harvested in Kevin John’s 100th birth year. Harvested from 3 separate Wente clone chardonnay blocks, planted in 1976 and 1988, on their own roots. Gee, it’s a powerful and dry spicy wine. Lemon peel, cinnamon and clove spice, pear, fresh pineapple, apricot, and ripe lime, roasted peanuts. It’s flinty, zesty, kind of oaky too, but the fruit swallows it up, and carries on with aniseed, dried pear, lavish spice, tight grapefruity acidity, very intense, flinty and dry, chamomile and ginger on a finish of superb length. Chalky, spicy, oaky, a whole lot of Chardonnay power here, It’s bursting with vitality and it’s pretty full on as a young wine; like staring at the sun. But give it time, and it should reward most handsomely. Drink: 2025-2032+ - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, 95+ Points

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Margaret River, Western Australia
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
Other - Organic, Bio-Dynamic