- Margaret River, WA - $34-$43
- Screwcap
- 12.5%alc
Guided by the esteemed Vanya Cullen, Cullen is a biodynamic producer whose complex, savoury and long living wines easily rate with the new world's best. I can personally attest to Vanya Cullen paying as much attention to the finer details of wine business management as she does her highly skilled winemaking.
Beautifully lifted and herbal, Cullen's 2007 Cabernet Merlot (67%/33%) opens to an unmistakably regional fragrance of dusted blackberries, cherries and violet partnered by fine-grained, toasty cedar oak. Medium to full in body, its palate shows the well judged balance of rich, soft juicy fruits and structure typical of the blend, going on to further reveal savoury undertones of toasty cedar, dry earth and licorice accentuating its dark plum and cherry fruit core. It's perfectly ripened and vibrant, finishing long and dry with the fine length and seamlessly integrated, natural tannins which so define the Cullen style.
ü+ Flawlessly executed from a ripper vintage, this sits exactly where it should in Cullen's impressive arsenal. It's an ideal younger sibling to the Diana Madeline of immense drinkability. Drink to 2017.
93 points
Sounds like a fine followup to the 2005. Good to see.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this review Chris. Sounds like my cup of tea! Is this one of the most under-reviewed wines by wine critics? Halliday, Winefront, and Jeremy Oliver all review the Diana Madeline and the Mangan, but don't seem to review this entry level cabernet from Cullen.
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