Cullen Metricup Chardonnay 2025: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Sea-spray & mineral

This is Cullen Chardonnay with a cool, Chablis-inspired focus: tight line, bright citrus and a savoury mineral edge, with just enough mid-palate texture to feel quietly luxe. Aromas lean toward ripe stone fruit and Mediterranean notes – fig, peach and green apple – then lift into lemongrass, ginger and a whisper of vanilla bean. On the palate, it stays precise and energetic: kumquat and lemon curd through the middle, then a clean, saline finish that keeps pulling you back.

Highlights

• Certified organic and vegan suitable
• Single-vineyard Chardonnay from the Metricup Vineyard
• Chablis-inspired style with restrained oak and bright natural acidity
• Planted in 1998 on the border of Wilyabrup; certified organic, in conversion to biodynamic
• Tank-fermented with a small portion in French oak for texture
• 13.5% ABV

Taste Profile

Tasting Notes

Light gold with green tinges in the glass. The bouquet is expressive and layered: fig and dates over stone fruit, then lemongrass and ginger, finished with a delicate vanilla-bean note. The palate is all about integration and line – peach, green apple and pear up front, then bright kumquat and lemon curd carrying through the mid-palate. It finishes long and clean, with refined acidity and a gentle mineral elegance that lingers.

Winemaking

Cullen makes this in a Chablis-inspired style, leaning on cool fermentations and predominantly stainless steel to hold freshness and definition. A small portion sees French oak to build texture without pushing the flavour into toast and vanilla. It’s made with natural yeast and no additions of acidity, aiming for purity, energy and a clear sense of place.

Vineyard & Vintage

Fruit comes from the Metricup Vineyard, planted in 1998 on the border of Wilyabrup in Margaret River. The site is certified organic and is in conversion to biodynamic, which helps explain the clarity and natural drive through the wine. Vintage 2025 was shaped by a warm, dry season and an unusual “double budburst” in Chardonnay after warm conditions in May 2024, naturally reducing yields and concentrating flavour. The result is a white with lifted perfume, texture and depth, and slightly softer natural acidity than 2024, making it especially appealing in its youth.

Why We Love It

It’s Chardonnay built on detail: fruit, acidity and mineral character in balance, with oak used as seasoning rather than the main event. You get generosity of flavour, but the finish stays clean and purposeful. When you want a premium bottle that brings precision to the table, this is a beautiful choice.

Food Pairing

Fresh, citrus-led Chardonnay with a mineral edge loves seafood, creamy sauces, and herbs – especially when there’s a little salt and char on the plate. Try matching this wine with →

• Citrus-cured salmon with fennel and dill – Recipe Search
• Roast chicken with lemon and thyme (or roast cauliflower with tahini and lemon) – Recipe Search
• Vegetarian leek tart with parmesan and herbs – Recipe Search

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A Cheese Board Match that also suits a proper dinner: think seafood, roast chook, a bit of candlelight, and a glass that keeps delivering that salty-mineral finish.

Cellaring

Drink now for citrus, perfume and that Chablis-like line, or cellar confidently for up to 10 years. With time, expect more savoury complexity to emerge – grilled nuts, gentle spice and a more rounded, layered texture. Store cool and stable, and consider buying two: one for now, one for later.

Producer

Cullen Wines is a benchmark Margaret River estate in Wilyabrup, founded in the early 1970s and led by Vanya Cullen, whose work has helped define modern biodynamic farming in Australia. The Metricup Chardonnay is a more linear, site-specific expression than the flagship Kevin John, built around freshness, detail and minimal intervention. Fruit comes from the Metricup Vineyard (planted 1998, on the Wilyabrup border), farmed certified organic and progressing through biodynamic conversion. In the winery, the emphasis is on natural yeast, restrained oak and letting the season speak, so the wine stays precise, mineral and distinctly Cullen.

Related Wines To Try →

If you love Chardonnay with purity and line, these are beautiful next steps:

• Flagship Chardonnay with more power and complexity – Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay
• Bright, textural Margaret River white blend – Cullen Dancing in the Sun White
• Explore the style across regions – Shop all Chardonnay

FAQ

What does Cullen Metricup Chardonnay taste like?

Expect a dry, citrus-driven Chardonnay with stone-fruit depth and a clean mineral edge. You’ll see fig, peach and green apple, then kumquat and lemon curd through the mid-palate. It finishes long and saline, with restrained oak and a fresh, precise feel.

Is this Chardonnay oaky?

Oak is present, but it’s used with restraint – more about texture than obvious toast and vanilla. The overall impression is bright fruit, citrus lift and mineral drive, rather than a heavily wooded style. If you’re after a Chardonnay with a more noticeable oak frame, try Battle of Bosworth Chardonnay.

Is it sweet or dry?

Dry. Residual sugar sits around 2 g/L, so it reads crisp and savoury rather than fruity-sweet. Any richness you feel comes from ripe fruit and texture, not sugar.

How would you describe the body and acidity?

Medium-bodied, but not heavy. Acidity is bright and driving, giving the wine lift and length, while the palate stays composed and integrated. Think energetic and focused rather than creamy and broad.

What temperature should I serve it at, and what glass works best?

Serve at about 10–12°C – cool enough to keep it tight, but not ice-cold. A Burgundy-style Chardonnay glass (wider bowl) will show the aromatics and texture beautifully, though any quality white-wine glass works. If it warms slightly, you’ll notice more spice and stone-fruit detail.

Do I need to decant it?

Not essential, but a little air can be flattering. If you want maximum aroma and texture, pour it into a jug and give it 10–15 minutes before serving, or simply let it open in the glass. Avoid long, warm decants that can soften the fresh line.

How long can I cellar it?

Enjoy now or cellar for up to 10 years. Early on it’s all citrus, perfume and mineral cut; with time it should build more savoury complexity and a rounder, nutty-spiced character. Keep it in a cool, dark place with stable temperature.

Is it organic, and is it vegan?

Yes – it’s certified organic and vegan suitable. The vineyard is also described as in conversion to biodynamic, reflecting Cullen’s long-standing focus on regenerative farming. It’s a smart pick when you want premium wine plus clear values.

Does it contain preservatives (sulphites)?

Like almost all wine, it will contain sulphites. Certified organic standards place strict limits on inputs, and this style tends to taste especially clean and precise. If you’re sensitive, it’s still best enjoyed with food and plenty of water.

What food matches best, and who will love it?

It’s excellent with citrus-cured salmon, grilled fish, roast chicken, creamy pasta and lemony veg dishes. This is for Chardonnay drinkers who prefer tension and minerality over buttery richness. If you like Chablis, elegant Margaret River Chardonnay, or crisp modern Aussie whites with a saline finish, you’ll feel right at home.

(SKU: CW_MCC_CV)