1999 CHARDONNAY
Complexity and texture are hallmarks of the Cullen Chardonnay. The fruit for this wine is harvested at varying degrees throughout vintage to contribute a range of flavours.
The wine is fermented with natural yeasts and maturated in French oak for seven to ten months. In order to preserve flavour and texture the wine has, if any at all, a light fining and filtration just prior to bottling.
Cullen Chardonnay will cellar well for up to ten years.
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This outstanding Chardonnay was picked at optimal sugar levels of 13.5 to 14% Baumé. The wine was fermented in new French oak using 100% wild yeast and underwent its malolactic fermentation in barrel. Just over half of the oak was new, while the rest was one year old. The yeast lees were stirred once monthly for eight months. A minimum of filtering was carried out and the wine was allowed to settle before bottling.
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James Halliday's
top 100, The Weekend Australian November 25-26, 2000 1999 Cullen Chardonnay Estate grown on 30 year old vines and hand crafted by Vanya Cullen, who is equally at home with Montrachet. A mix of melon, fig and stone fruit combines with subtle, gently smoky oak on the bouquet: the palate has some similarities the Cape Mentelle but the fruit is more vibrant. Drink: now-2009 With: Marron
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