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2020 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 93% Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Semillon.

The Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon vines were planted on their own roots in 1976, and are farmed with 100% certified biodynamic, carbon positive methods. The 2020 vintage produced low yields but beautiful fruit quality, leading to wines of effortless grace.

This excellent fruit quality enabled complexity in the winemaking. The Sauvignon Blanc was whole bunch basket pressed, with whole bunch amphorae skin contact fermentation, creating phenolic tension and mouthfeel with beautiful texture on the palate. The Semillon component was crushed with 4 days skin contact. Barrel-aged for 6 months in 68% new oak

Vintage Notes

2020 vintage was defined by dry conditions from the onset of budburst through to harvest in 2020.

A lower than average rainfall in 2019, and hot dry weather conditions in January, February and March made for almost drought conditions for harvest 2020.

Bunch numbers were about average, but low berry weights due to the dry conditions produced very low yields and wines which were balanced and pretty in nature. The harvest was unaffected by Covid 19 lockdowns as we had finished harvest and most of the fermentations had also finished, we just had the pressing of the red wines. Chardonnay yields were still affected by the previous year’s frost.

Wines of excellent balance and fruit purity, a vintage similar to 2003 in style. Best varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.

Winemaker Notes

Vineyard: 100% Cullen Vineyard

Varieties: 93% Sauvignon Blanc, 7% Semillon

Harvest: 8th February a Moon opposite Saturn flower day & 14th February Flower Day

Oak: 6 months in 68% new oak

Alcohol: 12%

Tasting Notes

Colour: Pale straw with green tinges Cellar: Enjoy now or for up to 15 years Bouquet: Cut grass, kaffir lime, figeoa and orange blossom Food: Scallops, prawns & eggplant Palate: Vibrant acidity, minerality, and texture, framing citrus, limes, kaffir lime, mandarine, 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 poise and balance.
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Previous Releases

  • 2018 Grace Madeline

    As usual, this blend contains a greater volume of Sauvignon Blanc than Semillon, which reflects the outstanding qualities of the fruit produced by the former variety on the Cullen Vineyard.

    Read more    View Tasting Notes

  • 2017 Cullen Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

    As usual, this blend contains a greater volume of Sauvignon Blanc than Semillon, which reflects the outstanding qualities of the fruit produced by the former variety on the Cullen Vineyard.

    Read more    View Tasting Notes