Description / Reviews
// Organic & Biodynamic
"Renamed in 2006 to honour Dr. Kevin John Cullen, co-founder of Cullen Wines, this Chardonnay is made from Wente clone vines planted on their own roots in 1976. Hand harvested around the biodynamic calendar over 5 different harvest times from the 14th to the 27th February including the first pick on a Full Moon MOSH Fruit Day and crafted from biodynamically certified Chardonnay grapes. Perfumed citrus blossom and persistent white florals, layered with ripe apple and pear. It evolves into a clean depth of dried figs with gentle touches of curry leaf and sea spray mist. Poised and balanced, unfolding of citrus blossom & Mediterranean notes of figs and dates, with a fragrant journey of pear and apple lifted by a gentle green spice structure of turmeric and ginger finishing with a sweet touch of honeysuckle. The attractive, vibrant mineral acidity keeps the flavours lingering on the back palate, with tightly bound stone fruit, length, and a firm, clean finish." - Cullen, Winemaker
"Bright light to mid yellow colour; creamy sur-lie aromas, cashewnut, pie crust and cream filled pastries, lemon and grapefruit emerging later. The wine is full and precise, ample bodied with softly drying phenolics completing the picture. More citrus and stone fruit flavours appear with time in the glass. Acidity is soft and seamless: the structure is about phenolics as well as acidity. A beautiful wine that will reward cellaring." - 98 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
"Pale colour. Fresh grapefruit, nougat, vanilla, roasted almond aromas with hints of limes. Beautifully balanced and classical in structure with ample grapefruit, lemon curd, lime flavours, fine slinky textures, lovely mid-palate creaminess, underlying marzipan, roasted cashew notes and fresh long saline/supple acidity. Builds up chalky/ al dente at the finish with persistent minerally notes. Delicious to drink with superb purity and flow." - 97 Points, Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
"The 2025 Kevin John Chardonnay leads with white pineapple and star anise, green apple and white peach. It is gently reductive and tightly coiled, its youth on show as usual at this time of its release cycle. It will be released in May 2026. In the mouth, the wine is typically spicy and concentrated and extraordinarily long through the finish. Despite the saturating concentration of flavor in the mouth, this vintage carries a levity or singularity that is most attractive. This is a quieter vintage, perhaps, and one that will evolve beautifully in time. 13.6% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. According to the technical booklet provided during the tasting, the 2025 vintage at Cullen began early after a warm, dry season and an unusual May heat spike that caused a rare double bud burst in Chardonnay, naturally reducing yields and concentrating flavor. Early bird pressure eased quickly, allowing the tiny crop to ripen with purity. Fruit was hand-harvested across two weeks from old, dry-grown vines. The grapes were hand sorted and destemmed. Certain batches of fruit spent two days in amphora while others were whole-bunch basket pressed into 50% new puncheons. It underwent daily to weekly bâtonnage during the ferment and then was left thereafter. After a wild fermentation and 100% malolactic, the wine spent a further seven months in 50% new puncheons. It was bottled without any filtration." - 96+ Points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate
