Cullen Grace Madeline 2024
- 95
- $50
- Drink by: 2025-2033
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This is the prestige Sauv Blanc and Sem blend in the Cullens range and it drinks like it. Named in honour of Diana Madeline’s mother, Vanya’s other grandmother, the vines were planted in 1976 and the wine is a blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Semillon. The Semillon was tank fermented but the Savvy saw eight months in barriques, 63% of them new, after both barrel and concrete egg fermentation with wild yeasts. Deep straw in colour, this is Savvy with complexity. Entirely possible we have the power of suggestion here, but it is a wine of grace. There is oak evident, but it is finely integrated. There are tropical notes with peach, fig and florals. A seamless style of great refinement and serious length. Enjoy this any time over the next six to eight years. A superb example of the style.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
