- Margaret River, WA - $16-$22
- Screwcap
- 12.0%alc
Cullen don't usually make a straight semillon, but they felt the exceptional fruit offered by their Mangan vineyard in 2008 justified a release. After undergoing natural fermentation, 22% of the wine spent 4 months in French oak.
Pale straw, Cullen's Semillon is scented with grilled nuts and toasty oak overlying its restrained primary fruit aromas of lemon and melon. Light hints of tobacco and herb also make a statement. Well worked and complex yet cleanly flavoured, its savoury palate reveals a seamless expression of pure, lemony varietal fruits wrapped in smoky butter oak. A slightly luscious, juicy mouthfeel is complemented by excellent depth of fruit, as the wine finishes with more than adequate length, soft acids and a lasting note of tobacco.
ü+ Perhaps not built for the long term, Cullen's 2008 Mangan Semillon remains a leading example of a complex and savoury, oak kissed semillon. Great stuff Cullen! Drink to 2013.
92 points
Great review. It's good to see Aussie sems which aren't from the Hunter getting some recognition.
ReplyDeleteKeep drinking!
Richie
Welcome aboard Richie!
ReplyDeleteI think we'll be seeing a lot more non-Hunter semillons getting recognition in the near future. Especially from regions with already established vineyards like the Margaret River, Clare Valley, and most importantly the Barossa.
Cheers,
Chris P