Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Cullen Cabernet/Merlot

Time to give the liver something to do again. What could be better on a cool and miserable day like today than a 12 year old Cullen?

The 1997 Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot is a beautiful wine to drink. It actually seems very Bordeaux-like. The colour has transformed from purple to red/orange/brown, but the structure of the wine is holding up well. More secondary characteristics now, but still a pleasant core of fruit. The wine is very smooth and elegant, but its outstanding feature is the very long finish, supported by soft and supple tannins. It is superb with lamb fillets.

This wine would have scored even higher if it had shown more life in the bottle. As it is, it should be drunk during the next 2-3 years.

Score: 95/++

P.S.: I noticed today that the 2007 version of this wine is the Cabernet/Merlot of the year in the new Penguin Wine Guide and Vanya Cullen the winemaker of the year.

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