2023 Cullen Ephraim

94 POINTS

Ray Jordan

The deepest, darkest colour you could ever imagine sits in the glass of this 70/30 blend of malbec and petit verdot from Cullen’s Mangan vineyard. It’s named after Kevin Cullen’s grandfather Ephraim, who like Cullen was a wine pioneer, albeit in the previous century. All naturally fermented and basket pressed before maturation in oak of which 35% was new for 8 months. It’s a powerful statement with rich dark chocolate and black fruit flavours supported by firm chalky tannins and a liberal hit of oak. It's a sort of big easy wine.

94 POINTS

Cassandra Charlick - Decanter

I could just melt into this wine. A blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Petit Verdot from Mangan vineyard. Wild ferment, 18-21 days skin contact, no fining, 35% new oak. On the nose, plenty of crushed florals, oodles of wintery festive spice, a lift of red pepper, deep tonal berries, she-oak needles crushed gently underfoot, and of course, a divine magenta splash of colour in the glass thanks to the Malbec. There’s also a hug-like note of red velvet cake dusted with fine dark chocolate. An explosion of life on the palate, with uplifting acidity nicely aligned with the fruit weight and splay of soft, slightly chalky-chewy tannins. A lovely touch of fine-grained oak. What really ties this wine together from the first sniff to the last sip is an aura of granite-like minerality laced with pearlescent quartz. It’s inky and long, concentrated, lush, deep-fruited, spiced, yet light on its feet and fresh thanks to a lacy mineral-led acidity. It's fabulous to drink now, but will be rewarded with time thanks to a fine foundation.