97 Points James Halliday — A Margaret River Legend in the Glass

My Wine Man on Cullen Wines

Few names carry as much weight in Australian fine wine as Cullen Wines. Founded in 1971 by Dr Kevin and Diana Cullen on the Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River, the estate has been a benchmark for Australian Chardonnay and Cabernet for over five decades. Today, under the stewardship of Vanya Cullen, the winery operates as a certified biodynamic and carbon-neutral estate — one of the first in Australia to achieve this. The Kevin John Chardonnay is named in honour of the late Dr Kevin Cullen and represents the pinnacle of the estate's white wine programme.

Tasting Notes

Hand-picked, whole bunch-pressed, and wild yeast-fermented in French barriques before spending a further five months on lees in those same barrels. The 2010 vintage shows a luminous golden hue with a complex, layered nose of white peach, roasted cashew, fig, and subtle struck-flint minerality. On the palate, the texture and mouthfeel are supple and round — a hallmark of the Kevin John — with white peach, cashew, and fig flavours coursing in an unbroken stream through to a prodigiously long finish. 97 Points — James Halliday.

Food Pairing

The roasted cashew complexity and supple creamy texture of the 2010 Cullen Kevin John Wilyabrup Chardonnay make it a magnificent match for Canadian Wild Sockeye Salmon Fillet (Sashimi Grade) from My Meat Man — pan-seared with beurre blanc and fresh tarragon or slow-roasted with lemon, the rich deep flesh is a magnificent match for the Kevin John's full-bodied richness and struck-flint minerality.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$888, the 2010 Cullen Kevin John Wilyabrup Chardonnay represents exceptional value for a 97-point icon wine from one of Australia's most celebrated estates. Comparable aged Margaret River Chardonnay at this quality level regularly trades at HK$1,200–$2,000+ at auction.

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