Sarah Ahmed – The Wine Detective

Here’s some bright and breezy, flag-waving news about Cullen Wines of Margaret River (Cullen restaurant pictured). Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay 2007 was one of my recent Wines of the Month (click here for my September review).  This morning news has winged its way from Down Under that it’s been named the ‘Wine of the Year and Best Chardonnay!’ in Nick Stock’s new 2010 Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide which says:

“With the convincing resurgence of Chardonnay in Australia taking hold from the top down, this is a beacon of quality for all to follow. A profound wine in every regard and one to impress the collectors and winemakers alike.”

Nick was one of my fellow judges at the Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia in October – I knew he was a discerning fellow!  Indeed it’s been a bit of a Cullen coup for their 2007s, I just mention (!), the year yours truly cellar ratted at Cullen for 2 weeks …

• the 2007 Diana Madeline Cabernet Merlot has won the ‘Best Cabernet Merlot Blend” and so says The Guide “A wine this perfectly expressed and so succinctly captured is a rare treat to taste; the pedigree of varieties, their cultivation, the site and the season all beautifully combine;” and
• Vanya Cullen has been named the ‘Winemaker of the Year’ thanks to said 07s being “delivered with all the skill, experience and wisdom that places this winery at the very top of the tree. Vanya’s role in leading this family operation to ever-new heights is a shining achievement.”

Big congratulations to the Cullen team and here’s the scoop on UK prices and stockists:

Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay 2007, RRP: £35.95, stockists, Worth Brothers Wine Merchants, Appellation Wines, Henderson Wines, Liberty Wines

Cullen Diana Madeline 2007, RRP: £44.99, stockists, Slurp.co.uk, The Wine Society, Liberty Wines

By the way, on matters Western Australia, I’ll publish my regional report of my trip next month and Decanter’s January issue, out next month, includes my feature about an eco-themed food and wine tour of WA.

All best

Sarah Ahmed
The Wine Detective