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Wine Information
Andrew Cailliard MW rated both this year and 1994 (and 1990) as 10/10 vintages. As with the '94, there was effectively no rain between October and the harvest in March. Vanya believes that this wine confirms her view that if the vines are healthy and not overburdened, they will regulate themselves and achieve physiological ripeness easily – “and therefore the greatest fruit concentration”. It was the fastest ripening season Cullen's have experienced but gave superb fruit. That self-regulation inevitably led to low cropping – 1.4 tonnes/acre for the Cabernet, 3.5 for the Merlot and 3.7 for the Franc. The blend was 70% Cabernet, 23% Merlot and 7% Franc. 13.5% alcohol.
This was the first year without a Reserve wine. Vanya believed the quality was so good across the board it was pointless.
Half the wine saw barrel fermentation and half saw extended skin maceration - for four weeks. The wine then saw 17 months in oak – just 20% new, 30% one-year and the rest in two-year-old barrels.
