Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Sauvignon blanc, semillon and a little verdelho, this has a ripe stone-fruit and lemon-curd nose with a stream of fresh herbs, too. The palate has a fresh core of lemon, papaya and melon flavors. Smoothly finished.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Dancing in The Sun is made with fruit from the Cullen and Mangan Vineyards. Verdelho is a potent variety in this blend—even additions as small as 5%, or thereabouts, contribute two things: a distinct dry grass character to the nose and a firm/coarse line of phenolics through the back palate. It also assists in allowing the wine to age more slowly. Despite the warm, plush vintage, the wine is savory, however the texture does reflect the season. It is plump and viscose, with notes of green pineapple, yellow grapefruit, juniper, saltbush, snow pea and enoki mushroom. As with all the Cullen wines, fruit concentration is never in doubt.
With hundreds of white grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended white wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used in white wine blends, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a variety that creates a soft and full-bodied white wine blend, like Chardonnay, would do well combined with one that is more fragrant and naturally high in acidity. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
Home to some of Australia’s most elegant and long-lived red and white wines, Margaret River is situated in the farthest reaches of Western Australia. Relatively warm and dry, the region is cooled by breezes from the Indian Ocean. Margaret River takes some inspiration from Bordeaux, producing top-quality Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux Blends with firm structure, mouthwatering acidity, balanced alcohol and notes of herbs and spice. For white wines, refreshing blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon as well as complex, age-worthy Chardonnays are regional specialties.