2002 MANGAN

 
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Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot are three varieties that are particularly well suited to growing in the Margaret River winegrowing region. When blended together these varieties form a divine trinity creating a unique wine. The Malbec provides the fruit power and colour, the petit verdot the length and texture and the Merlot the structure. The fruit which made this wine came from a single vineyard in the Wilyabrup subregion of Margaret River belonging to Rick Cullen and Bettina Mangan. A wine with great drinkability and ageing potential.

Tasting notes Reviews
   

This is the third vintage of this unique wine style, which comprises a blend of 43% Malbec, 25% Merlot and 32% Petit Verdot. Although this wine is not as powerful as the incredibly rich 2001, this is more than compensated for by its greater elegance.

The precise contribution made by the three red grape varieties to the 2002 Mangan represents the result of numerous trial tastings, which were aimed at ensuring that those varieties complemented each other perfectly and that, as a consequence, the wine was in complete harmony. The power supplied by the Malbec is thus supported by the length that is contributed by the Petit Verdot while the merlot adds the requisite tannins.

Colour: Deep red with crimson meniscus
Bouquet: Complex, vibrant mulberry and violet aromas
Palate: Lovely rich mulberry flavours are balanced by the fine grained tannins to produce a very satisfying and well structured palate that has good length and persistence
Cellaring: At least 10 years
Food: Most meat dishes and cheeses
 

Ray Jordan's Guide to Wine 2003/2004

This was one of the exciting finds for last year. It's an opulent intimidating blend of petit verdot, malbec and merlot all swirling deep and dark and brooding in the glass. Tremendous concentration of fruit, yet it still comes out with effortless style and refinement. There's plenty ageing in here - at least 10 years. 90/100

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
(as tasted by Jeremy Oliver) July/August 2003

Full red with a ruby edge. Spicy, earth aromas of black cherry, berries and plum with restrained cedary, chocolatey oak. Smooth and polished with harmonious, slightly earthy flavours of cassis, plum and cherry complicated by cinnamon spice and easily handling its creamy oak. This should make delightful drinking now or later.

Jeremy Oliver
Qantas Inflight Magazine June 2003

This “entry-level” Cullen blend of malbec, petit verdot and merlot has a deep, cedary perfume of spicy dark fruits and chocolate oak. Silky smooth and polished, with vibrant plum and berry flavours, its restrained and focused palate is tightly wrapped in the finest of tannins.