Cullen Wines Amber Vintage 2014
producer
Yarra Yering
name Amber vintage 2014
variety 64% Semillon, 36% Sauvignon Blanc rrp AUD$39
terroir
64% Mangan Vineyard and 36% Cullen Vineyard, both situated at Margaret River's Wilyabrup district.
Cullen Wines was establish by Dr. Kevin Cullen and Diana Cullen in 1971. A Western Australian family-owned company that source all fruit exclusively from their biodynamically certified Cullen and Mangan vineyards. Soils are old, granite and gravely sandy loam, overlaying lateritic subsoils. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are on lyre trellis due to their higher vigour. The vines are dry farmed thanks to the abundant moisture given by the green covers between rows and the extensive use of organic matter. I have walked this vineyard myself and I actually picked a handful of top soil with no effort straight from the ground - a clear sign of a well nurtured environment for the vines, as they can take nutrients naturally with no extra irrigation.
packaging
Striking - stands out on a shelf because of the combination of the clear bottle with 'orange themed' labelling emphasising the overall tonality of the wine. The screwcap, background panel, typography and the edges on the white label are copper orange - which is a clear message that this is not your normal cullen wine. To me this is a premium offering that they have thought out superbly. It refreshes their core range of wines and also leaves the door open to future releases. Attractive, fresh and colourful. A job well done.
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opinion
It was just a matter of time before Cullen Wines produced an 'amber wine'. The influence of European biodynamic producers from Alsace and Friuli as well as the ever changing Australian scene has alot to do with the release of this wine. Skin contact whites are on trend at the moment, in particular with artisan producers who make their wines with minimal intervention. This is a complex dessert wine example with aromas of baked apple, cinnamon, nougat, rockmelon and ripe pear. Oak influence is predominant as 79% of the Amber wine spent four months on 100% new french oak. The 15% alcohol is not for everyone, including me, so allow the wine to breath, decanting is recommended and I also suggest to serve it slightly chilled. It can be the most amazing dessert wine experience if you know how to serve it. This Amber wine is like nothing I have experienced before, take your time appreciating the detail in texture, flavours and finish.
suggested food matching
Desserts with cream, vanilla and/or white chocolate. Also fruit salads with pinneapple and rockmelon as well as a classic apple pie. The texture and oaky influence of the Amber wine is designed to have with food more so than by itself. I will recommend to taste with three different desserts so that the appreciation experience is lot greater. I was blown away by the many matchings it can handle, yet I definitely prefer it with the sweeter side of things.
the final word
Final words to go here...
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