Cullen Mangan 2009
A blend of Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot. Curiously, it’s labelled as being 12.5% alcohol, yet the trade sticker lists it at 13.5%. Blood and flowers, blood plum and mixed berries, pepper, hazelnut and subtle vanilla oak. It’s medium-weight, energetic and vibrant with a particularly lovely set of shapely tannins that fan out through the mouth and let you know straight off that this is ‘quality wine’ – vinous rather than simply sweet or fruity or oaky. Acidity is crisp rather than forced, and the length and impact is thoroughly impressive. You can drink it now or cellar it – either way it’s a winner. Drink : 2011 - 2025 95 points Gary Walsh, The Wine Front
Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot are three varieties that are particularly well suited to growing in the Margaret River winegrowing region. When blended together these varieties form a divine trinity creating a unique wine. The Malbec provides the fruit power and colour, the petit verdot the length and texture and the Merlot the structure. The fruit which made this wine came from a single vineyard in the Wilyabrup subregion of Margaret River belonging to Rick Cullen and Bettina Mangan. A wine with great drinkability and ageing potential.
