Last night’s Halliday Wine Companion Awards saw Vanya Cullen of Cullen Wines announced Winemaker of the Year for 2020.
|
Every year, James Halliday and his tasting panel pinpoint the best Australian wines, winemakers and wineries from a pool of several thousand featured in the annual Halliday Wine Companion guide. James and his team cherry pick the high performers from a range of criteria to offer a true representation of the nation’s greatest names in wine. Last night’s award dinner held in The Great Hall at the National Gallery of Victoria played host to industry greats and enthusiasts alike, eagerly awaiting the award announcements. The prestigious Winemaker of the Year Award for 2020 was bestowed upon Vanya Cullen for her exceptional contribution to Australian winemaking. The Cullen winemaking approach is to do whatever it takes to make outstanding wines. Over the last 30 years, Vanya Cullen’s contribution to biodynamic, organic and minimal intervention education has revolutionised wine regions across the world. Vanya’s unwavering commitment to producing outstanding wines with little to no intervention results in expressive, pioneering and internationally recognised wines. |
This year Vanya celebrates her 30th vintage as Head Winemaker of Cullen Wines and adds this tremendous award to her long list of achievements. “Winemaking is now in the hands of Vanya Cullen, daughter of the founders; she is possessed of an extraordinarily good palate. It is impossible to single out any particular wine from the top echelon; all are superb.” James Halliday As with her winemaking, Vanya’s acceptance speech last night was filled with passion and reverence. “The big thank you’s go to the team at Cullen Wines, to Andy and Matt in the winery and vineyard for all the work that they do and I have to thank the land and the vines and the grapes… It’s my 30th year as Senior Winemaker at Cullen and in the journey of making quality wines sustainably. The whole journey has been a love story; a love of nature, a love of the earth, a love of the grapevine, family, friends, colleagues, and I feel very blessed.” All of us at Mezzanine The Fine Wine Specialist cannot speak highly enough of the calibre of the wines produced by Vanya which have made an indelible mark on our industry and the palates of consumers alike. Congratulations Vanya on this most deserved award! |
TOP: James Halliday Winemaker of the Year 2020 video; ABOVE LEFT: Cullen Winemaker Andy Barrett-Lennard, Cullen Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Vanya Cullen, [Harvey Norman award presenter] and Cullen Viticulturist Matt Dermody accepting Halliday Winemaker of the Year award; ABOVE RIGHT [L to R]: Gae Grant [MTFWS], Peter Fraser of Yangarra, Cullen Viticulturist Matt Dermody, Jenny Butcher and Matt Turnbull [MTFWS], Cullen Chief Winemaker and Managing Director Vanya Cullen, Zak Thorne, Troy Denham, Louis Hastie and Ty Stott [MTFWS], Cullen Winemaker Andy Barrett-Lennard.
Cullen Mangan Vineyard
Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
This wine was produced on a certified biodynamic, carbon neutral and naturally powered estate. This outstanding blend from the 2017 vintage is a brilliant image of the vintage. Very high quality fruit with precise natural acidity guaranteeing great drinking over the next 10 years.
Cullen Vineyard
Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2016
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
“A 74/26% blend fermented and matured in new French oak for 5 months. The complex bouquet brings toasty oak, cut grass and hints of stone fruit (also lurking in the Mangan SBS) into play, the palate pulling out all the stops with its mix of tropical fruits and citrussy acidity.”
96 Points | James Halliday
Cullen Mangan Vineyard
Red Moon 2017
WILYARUP, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
“The deft winemaking hand of Vanya Cullen has a pronounced influence in this Margaret River blend of malbec, petit verdot and merlot grown on the family’s Mangan vineyard. The varieties have come together in near-perfect harmony, creating a soft, flavour intensive wine of redoubtable class.” John Fordham
92 Points | Mike Bennie
Cullen
Diana Madeline 2017
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
“81% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 6% cabernet franc, 3% malbec. Wild-fermented and matured for 18 months in French oak (40% new). The colour is faultless, as is the wine. It has waves of complexity, like one of Margaret River’s surf breaks, changing shape as the luxuriant cassis swells on the mid-palate, then finishes with ripe, textured tannins as the wave goes on to crash on the shore. The overall ripeness is perfection.” 98 Points | James Halliday
2020 Winner | Best Cabernet and Family Varietals, James Halliday
97 Points | Huon Hooke
96 Points | Gary Walsh
*Extremely Limited
Cullen Mangan Vineyard
East Block Red 2017
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Harvested from the prime selections of the eastern blocks of the Mangan Vineyard, as usual showcasing the best of the specific season. This vintage is a blend of 85% malbec and 15% petit verdot. Velvety with blood plums and blueberry fruit. Balanced and fine tannins carrying the finish lifted by the petit verdot component.
Cullen
Kevin John Chardonnay 2017
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
“Oh gosh, this is good Chardonnay. There is such precision and purity, yet it reveals complexity and layers that continue to emerge from the palate. The fruit is exceptional off these biodynamic vineyards, and then in the wines fermentation with wild yeasts and then a further five months in barriques and puncheons have played out with just the right touch. It’s a classy wine that captures vineyard and vintage to perfection.” 98 Points | Ray Jordan
97 Points | Best Australian Wines of 2018, Huon Hooke
97 Points | James Halliday
96 Points | Mike Bennie
*Extremely Limited
Cullen
Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2017
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
“Understated in the typical Cullen way, though it’s very much a wine that builds and reveals itself with time in glass, decanter, or cellar. Violet, boysenberry, nutty, slight leafy edge but ripe enough to deliver flavour, but with restraint. Medium bodied, dry insistent suede tannin, and a long finish with dark chocolate and tobacco trailing. Charming. Better again with a few years in the cellar.”
93 Points | Gary Walsh
Cullen
Sparkling Rose Moon 2018
2018 was one of the great vintages for Wilyabrup and Cullen Wines. The balanced crops and weather produced perfectly ripened grapes which turned into vinous heaven for the wine drinker! Low yields and concentration also are a mark of this harvest. The result is a wine with fine bubbles, fruit, earth and flowers. Lots of flavour and a dash of Petillant natural funk.
Cullen
Vanya Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
This wine is a tribute to the land and the vines it came from. Vanya added nothing – no yeast, acid or malolactic culture. Nor is the wine fined; just a pure expression of another great year. It has perfume, it has succulence, and it has long, deep, layered Cabernet flavour.
*Extremely Limited
Cullen
Amber Sauvignon Blanc 2018
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
“Scents of lemon balm, faint toast, sea spray, green herbs. Beautiful. Palate is elegant and sleek, shows licks of nuttiness and clove spice, drives well, finishes soft and powdery. Delicious, and such a sense of energy to the wine. Superb now, but should age wonderfully too.”
94+ Points | Mike Bennie
Cullen
Dancing in the Sun 2018
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
“Tropical fruits but not too overt, lots of green herb and saline character too, a dose of green apple and citrus. It’s pleasant and pretty in scent. Crystal clear fruit flavours to taste, a little lilt of grassiness, some tang of green apple, a slip of sweet tropical fruits. Cool and fresh, easy to drink, vital and delicious. Nice one.”
91 Points | Mike Bennie
Cullen
Dancing in the Moonlight 2018
MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
“Pale salmon colour. Rose water, rose hip flowers, light red berry notes, a touch of talc. Good scents. Light sweetness in the palate, chalkiness in texture, limey acidity under more rose hip tea and pomegranate juice. And it is juicy, but finishes dry. It’s a lovely expression.”
92 Points | Mike Bennie