Tasting Notes for Cullen Grace Madeline 2019 from the Winery 

The defining weather event in the 2019 vintage was the frost in October, which caused a 60% yield reduction in our chardonnay, this was due to timing and the chardonnay being and early variety to go through budburst.

The weather conditions were relatively kind during the growing season although cooler, and harvest was short and sweet. This couldn’t have been better, as rains fell heavily shortly after harvest finished at Cullen’s. We are very excited about the quality of wines from the 2019 harvest, typical of a low yield year. Because of the cooler conditions there was no food for the birds and nets were being taken off as we were harvesting to prevent damage. If you didn’t have nets there was no harvest as the birds were starving. A low year for honey also as no blossom on the gum trees and cooler conditions.

Colour: Pale straw with green tinges

Cellar: Enjoy now or for up to 20 years

Bouquet: Passionfruit, limes, white flower, nettle, kaffir lime and mango

Food: Dhufish, oysters, asparagus

Palate: Vibrant acidity, minerality, and texture, framing citrus, limes, kaffir lime, nettles, cut grass and vanilla flavours. A wine of great vibrancy and freshness, and yet the palate has great length and line, travelling through with beautiful texture and intensity

2019 Grace Madeline

Grace Madeline is Diana Madeline’s mother and Vanya Cullen’s maternal grandmother. This wine named in her honour is a blend of 67% sauvignon blanc and 33% Semillon.
The sauvignon blanc and semillon vines were planted on their own roots in 1976, and are farmed with 100% certified biodynamic methods.

Trellis experimentation started in 1988 which led to the implementation of both Lyre and Scott Henry trellis systems, creating more open canopies and healthier fruit.

The sauvignon blanc component was harvested on a biodynamic fruit day and the semillon on a Moon opposite Saturn flower day. The high quality of the sauvignon blanc fruit supported over-night skin contact, creating phenolic tension and mouthfeel with beautiful texture on the palate. Low yields gave an elegant aromatic style of wine with vibrant acidity. The semillon component was crushed and pressed straight away with no skin contact.

This wine was barrel-aged for 5 months in 55% new oak.

Winemaker Notes

Vineyard: 100% Cullen Vineyard

Varieties: 67% Sauvignon Blanc, 33% Semillon

Harvest: 6th of March – fruit day, and 15th March – Moon opposite Saturn flower day

Oak: 5 months in 55% new oak

Alcohol: 12.5%

(SKU: CW_GSB_CV)