Cullen Wines Kevin John Chardonnay 2022 1.5L
Harvested in Kevin John’s 100th Birth Year
The Kevin John Chardonnay 2022 is a truly exceptional wine, commemorating the 100th birthday of Kevin John Cullen, the visionary founder of Cullen Wines. This limited-edition release celebrates the legacy of Kevin John and his commitment to crafting wines of purity, elegance, and character.
The 2022 vintage is a blend of Chardonnay from three separate blocks of the Wente clone, planted in 1976 and 1988, on their own roots. These vines, meticulously nurtured using biodynamic farming principles, produced just 1.8 tonnes per hectare, ensuring low yields and, consequently, an intense expression of the vineyard's unique terroir. The hand-harvested fruit was picked in harmony with the biodynamic calendar over eight different harvest dates, from the 3rd to the 21st of February, including a pick under the full moon. This careful approach to harvesting, combined with the cooler season, created wines with immense perfume and texture.
After fermentation in 50% new biodynamic puncheons, the wine was left to mature for six months, with batonnage to enhance the texture. There was no fining, filtration, or cold stabilisation, preserving the purity and integrity of the fruit. The result is a Chardonnay of unparalleled complexity and finesse.
Maker
Cullen Wines is one of Margaret River’s most renowned and pioneering wineries, founded in 1971 by Kevin Cullen, who was instrumental in recognizing the region’s potential to produce world-class wines. Today, the winery is led by Kevin’s daughter, Vanya Cullen, who became Chief Winemaker in 1998 and has since continued to push the boundaries of quality winemaking while championing sustainable, biodynamic farming practices. Cullen Wines is dedicated to producing wines that reflect the unique terroir of Margaret River, and their exceptional wines are crafted with meticulous attention to detail, from vineyard to bottle.
The Cullen family’s commitment to quality, sustainability, and innovation has garnered the winery a reputation as a leader in the Australian wine industry. Cullen Wines is a proud member of Australia’s First Families of Wine, a prestigious group of iconic family-owned wineries, and has earned numerous accolades for its premium wines, which are celebrated for their purity, complexity, and elegance.
Philosophy
At Cullen Wines, the philosophy is rooted in a deep respect for the land, with a strong focus on sustainability and the belief that great wine begins in the vineyard. The team practices biodynamic farming, working in harmony with nature to create healthy soils, vibrant vines, and exceptional fruit. This holistic approach to viticulture ensures that the wines not only express the unique characteristics of Margaret River’s terroir but also contribute to the long-term health of the environment.
Minimal intervention winemaking is key at Cullen Wines. The winemaking process focuses on letting the fruit shine, with fermentation and aging carried out in the most natural way possible to allow the essence of the vineyard to come through. The winery’s commitment to organic and biodynamic practices is complemented by a deep dedication to innovation and craftsmanship, ensuring that each wine is a true reflection of the land it comes from. Whether it’s the renowned Diana Madeline Cabernet Merlot or the elegant Kevin John Chardonnay, Cullen Wines is devoted to producing wines that are authentic, expressive, and sustainable for future generations to enjoy.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Lemon, Kaffir Lime, Dried Pear
The nose opens with lemon and sea spray mist, complemented by lime flowers and the fresh zest of kaffir lime. Hints of dried pear and fig add depth, creating a complex and inviting bouquet.
Palate
Crisp, Balanced, Lemon Sherbet
On the palate, the wine has a crunchy, vibrant acidity that beautifully balances the sweet fruit flavours of dried pear and orange blossom. There’s a refreshing back palate of lemon sherbet, which enlivens the experience with a citrusy zest.
Finish
Mineral, Poised, Long
The finish is long and mineral-driven, with a subtle lemon sherbet tang. The wine is beautifully balanced with a refreshing and clean finish, leaving a lasting impression of elegance.
Reviews
The approach to viticulture and then winemaking means that this wonderful chardonnay from the 2022 vintage is as pure as you can get. It all sort of just happens under the umbrella of a fastidious and rigorously uncompromising biodynamic discipline. The aromas are immediately complex and engaging with traces of talc and lime, a little pear and some nice roasted cashew. The palate kicks in with its power and precision displaying attractive savoury minerality, a little spice and vanilla bean and a rich buttery though controlled textural feel in the mouth. The purity and expression of place is heightened by the fact it is bottle unfined and unfiltered. This is a window into one of the finest vineyards in the land. - Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot, 98 Points
It's a powerful and dry spicy wine. Lemon peel, cinnamon, clove spice, pear, fresh pineapple, apricot, ripe lime, and roasted peanuts. It's flinty, zesty, with slight oak. Still, the fruit swallows it up and carries on with aniseed, dried pear, lavish spice, tight grapefruity acidity, very intense chamomile and ginger on a finish of superb length. Chalky, spicy, oaky, a whole lot of Chardonnay power here, it's bursting with vitality, and it's pretty full on as a young wine, like staring at the sun. But give it time, and it should reward most handsomely. - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front, 95+ Points
The Chardonnays I have tasted so far from the 2022 vintage in Margaret River remind me of the 2014s, in their soft acidity and primal, almost unbound fruit power. Here, the 2022 Kevin John Chardonnay leads with crushed nuts, salted yellow peach, red apple skins, preserved citrus rind, yuzu, green tea and saltbush, before tumbling into the flavours in the mouth. Toffee apple, nuts, curry leaf and saffron. Concentrated, piercing and intense. The acid envelops the tongue and holds it hostage, while the fruit explodes with power. The Gingin clone is on show here. The wine trails to a soft, juicy finish. It is lingering, very good, excellent, even better after a gentle decant and served in a big Burgundy glass. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. - Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, 97 Points"
The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Chardonnay
Country - Australia
Region - Margaret River, Western Australia
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 1.5L
ABV - 12%
Other - Organic, Bio-Dynamic
