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2020 Vanya

Cullen Vineyard, with its land, vines and people… is my life’s work. Over the 39 year period since 1983-2023 of working at Cullen, the love for Cabernet sauvignon has deepened. Planted in 1971, it is the heart and soul of what we do. This wine of the 2020 vintage is a tribute to the land and the vines it came from; pure expression of cabernet sauvignon.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon; handpicked, sorted and destemmed on a flower day, Moon Opposite Saturn astral event, in early March. Fermented naturally on skins in 300 litre terracotta amphora lined with Cullen Wines’ very own beeswax, and left on skins for 92 days. The wine was then pressed on a perigee Flower day to biodynamic Flower day barrels and left to rest for another 8 months. No additions of yeast, acid, malolactic culture or fining agents, just the wines grown on these ancient soils.

 

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:  100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Harvest:  4th March. Hand harvested on a MOSH flower day.

Oak: 100% new oak for 8 months

Alcohol:  13%

Tasting Notes

Colour: Purple, deep red brick tinges Cellar: Drink now or for up to 30 years... on its own or with good company. Bouquet: Plum, salty plum, mulberry, violets, roses, dusted chocolate, cherry, wild thyme, iodine, ironstone Food: Tasmanian ocean trout. Beef. Palate: This wine was tasted over three days and opened up as the time went on. The first day was a leaf going into flower day, and the next two days both flower days.  A flower day, Moon opposite Saturn harvest, tasted over the three flower days... how wonderful to experience! Initially on the first day it was shy and closed and then on the second day full flower day, opened its heart to the world revealing, delicious satsuma plum, dark chocolate, cherry, ironstone, caramel, and wild thyme. The palate sings with elegant character and depth of connection to country. Fine grained amphora  tannins ,wrap around the front palate, and the fruit flavours fantail, out right to the back palate with  a gust of energy that makes you want to try and taste and drink again to finish the glass and the bottle. An elegant sophisticated wine which captures the land and sky in a glass showing one of the greatest examples of cabernet sauvignon of its type in the world.

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Previous Releases

  • 2017 Full Moon Vanya

    This wine of the 2017 vintage is a tribute to the land and the vines it came from. Pure expression of a great year for Cullen Wines.

    Read more    View Tasting Notes

  • 2015 Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon

    Cullen Vineyard, with its land, vines, wines and people… is my life’s work.

    Read more    View Tasting Notes

  • 2017 Flower Day Vanya

    This wine of the 2017 vintage is a tribute to the land and the vines it came from. Pure expression of a great year for Cullen Wines.

    Read more    View Tasting Notes