Cullen Wines Mangan Vineyard ‘Red Moon’ 2018

A blend of 61% Malbec and 39% Petit Verdot, harvested between the 11^th and 25^th of March, the wine spent five months in French oak, 57% new. Hand harvested, naturally fermented and basket pressed into French oak.

For those of us who were not aware of exactly what a Red Moon is, which includes me, it happens during a total lunar eclipse. Light filtering through the atmosphere “dapples the moon in red light” which happened during the 2017 harvest, and again during the 2018 vintage, on January 31^st. 

Still very young with bright berry notes, mocha and black cherries plus black fruits throughout while the palate is all softness and plushness. Will drink well now but has a good three to six years ahead of it thanks to its fine tannins. A mid-length style but one gets the feeling that in 12-24 months it might appear much longer – good wine.