Cullen Dancing in the Sun White 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Structured & grippy

A quietly brilliant Margaret River white that sits somewhere between classic Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon freshness and the kind of textural, phenolic “hold” you usually find in more serious, site-led wines. You’ll get rockmelon and Pink Lady apple, citrus blossom, then a run of lemon and pink grapefruit with a faint tropical shimmer. The finish is lean, persistent and beautifully composed – bright, but with real shape.

Highlights

• Certified organic and vegan suitable
• Multi-vineyard blend: 59% Metricup Vineyard, 24% Mangan Vineyard, 17% Cullen Vineyard
• Varieties: 53% Sauvignon Blanc, 28% Semillon, 14% Chenin, 4% Chardonnay, 1% Verdelho
• No oak: fermented without oak; some skin contact time before fermentation
• Tightly structured phenolics and acidity with lemon, pink grapefruit, lychee, apples and a lean, elegant finish

Taste Profile

Tasting Notes

Lifted aromatics show citrus blossom, ripe rockmelon and crisp apple, with a neat herbal flicker that reads more “fresh garden” than grassy. The palate is where it gets interesting: lemon and pink grapefruit sit inside a lightly grippy phenolic frame, giving the wine a dry, mouth-watering shape rather than simple fruit sweetness. You’ll also find hints of lychee and tropical fruit tucked into the mid-palate, before a long, lean finish that feels mineral and refreshing.

Winemaking

Cullen describes this as the joyful side of their biodynamic work: fruit harvested on fruit and flower days, fermented with no oak and no additions of yeast or acid. A little skin contact before fermentation helps build that fine phenolic structure – the subtle grip that makes this wine feel more culinary than casual. The overall aim is clarity and line: aroma, texture and acidity working together, not competing.

Vineyard & Vintage

The vineyard mix is listed as 59% Metricup, 24% Mangan and 17% Cullen Vineyard, bringing a blend of fruit weight, lift and tension. The 2024 vintage is noted by the producer as the hottest, driest and earliest harvest on record, with rapid picking and concentrated flavours; whites and reds are described as showing opulence and power early on. In this wine, that shows as ripe fruit notes held neatly in check by phenolics and bright acidity, finishing clean and persistent.

Why We Love It

Because it offers the refreshment you want, but with a quietly sophisticated structure that makes it feel “wine-list worthy”. It’s not a simple gulp-and-go Sauvignon: the texture is the point. If you enjoy whites that stay dry, shapely and food-driven, this is a beautifully modern choice.

Food Pairing

This is a zesty, textural white that shines with spice, herbs and anything creamy or grilled. Try matching this wine with →

• Chicken curry (or chickpea curry) with fresh herbs – Recipe Search
• Leek and parmesan tart (or leek pie) – Recipe Search
• Grilled prawns with garlic, lemon and olive oil – Recipe Search

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A Spicy-Food Specialist for balcony dinners and weekend lunches – the bottle you open when you want something bright, dry and grown-up that can handle heat, herbs and flavour.

Cellaring

Best enjoyed young for its lifted aromatics and crisp line, though it can cellar for up to 5 years. Over time, you can expect more honeyed Semillon/Chenin complexity to appear, with softer fruit and a slightly more savoury, lanolin-like edge. If you love the brightness and grip, drink it sooner; if you enjoy evolution and texture, give it a couple of years.

Producer

Cullen Wines is one of Margaret River’s most respected estates, based in Wilyabrup and family-owned since the early 1970s. Under Vanya Cullen, the vineyards shifted to organic viticulture in the late 1990s and became a reference point for biodynamic farming in the region, with a strong focus on soil health, biodiversity and energy in the glass. “Dancing in the Sun” is the playful, white-blend side of that philosophy: a multi-vineyard, multi-variety expression designed to be fresh, textural and food-ready, while still speaking clearly of place.

Related Wines To Try →

If you love this bright, textural Margaret River feel, these are smart next pours:

• Cullen Metricup Chardonnay 2025
• Cullen Dancing In The Moonlight Rose 2024
• Shop all Sauvignon Blanc

FAQ

What style of white is this?

It’s a dry Margaret River white blend led by Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, with Chenin plus small portions of Chardonnay and Verdelho. Think fresh fruit and citrus, but with a subtle phenolic grip that gives it shape and seriousness. Elegant, lean and very food-friendly.

What will I taste in the glass?

Expect rockmelon, Pink Lady apple and citrus blossom on the nose, then lemon and pink grapefruit through the palate. You’ll also find lychee and apples, with tightly structured phenolics and acidity holding everything together. The finish is long, clean and persistent rather than overtly fruity.

Is it sweet or dry?

It’s properly dry. Residual sugar is about 2 g/L, which reads as crisp rather than sweet. Any sense of fruit richness comes from ripeness and texture, not sugar.

How would you describe the body, acidity and that “grip”?

Body sits in the light-to-medium range, with plenty of flavour but no heaviness. Acidity is bright and mouth-watering, and the wine has a gently grippy, phenolic feel (more like citrus pith than tannin). That’s what makes it so good with food, especially spice and herbs.

What temperature should I serve it at, and what glassware suits?

Serve well chilled: around 8–10°C. A standard white wine glass is great, but a slightly larger bowl (Chardonnay-style) will show more texture and aromatics. If it warms a little in the glass, the palate becomes rounder and more complex.

Do I need to decant it?

Not usually – it’s designed to be bright and immediate. If you want to emphasise texture and savoury notes, a quick 10 minutes in the glass (or a gentle splash pour) is enough. Avoid long decants that strip out the aromatics.

How long can I cellar it?

Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years. In the near term you’ll get maximum freshness, citrus and lift; with time, the Semillon/Chenin elements can turn more honeyed and savoury. Either way, keep it cool and stable.

Is it organic, and is it vegan?

Yes – it’s certified organic and vegan suitable. That makes it a confident choice for shared tables where dietary preferences matter. It’s also very much in line with Cullen’s broader farming and sustainability philosophy.

What about preservatives (sulphites)?

Like virtually all wines, it will contain sulphites. What you can rely on here is the certified organic status, which comes with strict standards around inputs. In the glass, the feel is clean and precise, with a bright, natural finish.

What food is best, and who will love it?

It’s brilliant with chicken curry, leek tart/pie, grilled seafood, Vietnamese-style salads and anything with fresh herbs and citrus. You’ll love it if you enjoy dry whites with shape and texture rather than simple fruitiness. If you like a Loire-style Sauvignon/Semillon blend, or textural modern Aussie whites, this sits right in that zone.

(SKU: CW_DIS_CV)