About the Wine
From Mulline's coolest and most coastal site, the Brown Magpie Vineyard in Modewarre, just 20km inland from Torquay. Planted in 2002 to a mix of clones MV6, 777, 114 and 115, the site features sandy loam over clay, estuary marl and limestone. Each clone was handpicked and fermented separately with varying levels of whole bunch-ranging from 0% to 100%.
Wild yeast fermentations took place in open vats with twice-daily punch downs and extended time on skins (9 to 14 days), before being pressed to oak for natural malolactic fermentation.
The final blend includes 80% whole bunch. 25% was matured in new French oak, with the remainder in seasoned barriques and puncheons. Bottled unfined with minimal filtration in December 2024.
Review
"A single-vineyard wine from the Surf Coast, the vineyard planted in '01; 80% whole bunches and matured in 30% new barriques. A bright, deep crimson. Ultra perfumed and lifted with its bouquet of brambly red fruits, rose bush and warm spices. Medium bodied, this is both sumptuous and beautifully delineated on the very long, classically structured palate. Absolutely tops from beginning to end and a wine destined to age effortlessly over the next decade or longer" - 97 pts, Halliday Wine Companion
About Mulline
Mulline Vintners is a collaboration between 2 Bens focused on producing premium wines from the Geelong Region, Victoria, Australia. Collectively, Ben Mullen + Ben Hine are Mulline Vintners. Ben Mullen is the Winemaker at Mulline Vintners.
Ben Mullen is a qualified winemaker and viticulturist. Ben grew up just east of the Barossa Valley region in South Australia. After graduating from secondary school, Ben enrolled in business and marketing at Uni. Concurrently, Ben began working in the wine industry at cellar doors in the Barossa. He promptly decided that wine was much more fun than marketing and enrolled in a Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology at Adelaide University.
Since then, Ben has had a whirlwind career which has seen him making wine all over the globe. Of note, Ben has worked at Torbreck (Barossa Valley, South Australia), Yarra Yering (Yarra Valley, Victoria), Oakridge (Yarra Valley, Victoria), Domaine Dujac (Burgundy, France), Craggy Range (Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand) and Clyde Park (Bannockburn, Geelong, Victoria).
With this stellar background, it was a matter of time before Ben Mullen decided to spread his wings and make wine under his own label.
Snapshot
Region: Surf Coast, Geelong, Victoria
Country: Australia
Vintage: 2024
Size: 750ml
ABV: 12%
Closure: Screwcap
Varieties: Pinot Noir
