Cullen ‘Mangan Vineyard’ Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007 Friday, Nov 30 2007
Tasting Notes and Australia and Margaret River and Variety and White and semillon et al
This is a blend of 63% Semillon and 37% Sauvignon Blanc that spends three months in new oak and is fermented with indigenous yeast. I get that many SSB and SBS blends to review it is not funny but there are certain wineries that nail (or even define) the style. Cullen is certainly one of them.
Plenty going on here with a mix of citrus, passionfruit pith, flinty reduction, honey, dried herbs, aniseed and spice. On the palate lemon, passionfruit, creamed honey, green herb and flinty flavours with excellent texture offering a little chalky grip and a light creamy glossy top coat. Acidity is penetrating and crunchy but with no hardness or bits poking out at odd angles. Finishes dry and long with a mouthwatering lime and spice aftertaste. Top wine. A paragon of style.
Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : Nov07
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $35
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2008 - 2017
Source : Winery Sample
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December 1st, 2007 at 12:42 pm| Quote |
Same price as the standard one? I know which I’ll get
December 1st, 2007 at 12:48 pm| Quote |
They are (obviously) really good..but different!
GW
December 1st, 2007 at 1:11 pm| Quote |
I’d also add that the Mangan vineyard is next to the Cullen vinerard and that some might actually prefer the Mangan. I’ll re-taste them both later today too. In an unprecedented turn of events two Sauvignon Blanc based wines are Wine of the Month!
GW
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:03 am| Quote |
Cullen wines push the vfm envelope for me these days and I’ve experienced more variability in Cullen wines than any other winery I’ve ever purchased from online. But I did buy a couple of screwcapped DM 04s.
When Vanya puts together a good sbs or ssb they are very, very good. The sooner Cullen seals 100% of it’s product under screwcap for at least the domestic market, the better for the winery, the wine itself and the consumer.
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:09 am| Quote |
Oh, yeah, isn’t the Mangan vineyard over the road from the original one, rather than next door? But I suppose, who really cares if the wine is up to scratch………
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:44 am| Quote |
I think Cullen have been 100% screwcap since 2002 vintage.
Both vineyards are biodynamic and it says in the press ‘reflects substantial differences in the terrain of the two vineyards, even though the vineyards are separated only by a fence.’
I sample of the 06 Mangan red arrived in the pile last week too.
GW
December 2nd, 2007 at 2:46 pm| Quote |
The last bottle of Mangan I had (2002) was sealed with a corked and was corked, massive TCA. That was after a couple of dodgey bottles of chardonnay.