Cullen Diana Madeline 2023

99 POINTS - Andrew Caillard, The Vintage Journal
"Deep colour. Ethereal cassis, light marzipan, vanilla with hints of violet. Fresh blackcurrant pastille, marzipan, cedar flavour and fine bittersweet/ grainy tannins. Finishes claret firm, with pure dark berry fruits and superb mineral length. Elegantly proportioned, pristine and sinuous with excellent cellaring potential. A genuine Australian First Growth highlighting the genius of vineyard site, meticulous harvesting (five separate picking
times), empathetic and imaginative winemaking. 89% cabernet sauvignon, 5%
merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 3% malbec, 14 months maturation in new (55%) and seasoned French oak. A classic vintage; up there with the best. Keep for a
while to allow some bottle age development as you will be greatly rewarded.'
13.5% alc."

98 POINTS - Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot
‘Really delivers as you might expect from this excellent concentrated and powerfully framevintage in Margaret River. It’s dominant cabernet withs maller portions of merlot, cabernet franc and malbec. Typical of this wine since switching to biodynamics, it is bright and brilliant with a nervy tense energy to drive the palate. The succulent
fruit is harnessed by fine chalky tannins and neatly played oak of which 55% was new. A wine of extraordinary elegance and poise with a few of many decades.'

Vintage 2023 was a low yielding vintage which resulted in some stunning grapes and hence quality wine. In particular Cabernet Sauvignon exhibited the best typicity of varietal manifestation. The 52 year old vines consistently yield well year on year out.

The growing conditions until December were cold and wet and due to the negative Indian dipole and La Niña effects finishing in December 2022 we had an unprecedented dry spell from December until the end of harvest.

Small berry size particularly in white grape varieties produced beautifully balanced wines; Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Cabernet and Malbec all outstanding.

TASTING NOTES:

Colour
Mulberry, velvet cherry, red brick.

Cellar
Now or cellar up to 50 years

Bouquet
Rich cherry, chocolate , rose, violet, ironstone, curry leaf.

Food
Margaret River Wagu beef, confit duck, roast root vegetables.

Palate
Juicy rich structure, rich chocolate, mulberry, cherry with beautiful fine grained tannins supporting ethereal fruit with unctuous texture and complexity inviting you back for another taste and glass of this delicious wine. Drinks well now and will last for at least 50 years.