Exquisitely perfumed and balanced Cabernet of perfect proportion and weight. Flowers, cherry, dark chocolate, spicy biscuit and lead pencils. Depth of fruit and concentration, yet still comes over as svelte and fine, with freshness and fragrance, earthy bass notes, a rich seam of graphite tannin, and a long resonant finish. It’s a sensational vintage for Cullen Cabernet.
97 points, The Wine Front (March 2020)
I've been waiting for this wine to be released, knowing how good the 2018 vintage was in Margaret River. In fact, it goes further than my loft expectations. Super-concentrated deep black currant, mulberry and dark, plummy, chocolate flavours. There is an extraordinary brightness and vitality on the nose with exotic violet perfumes. Impeccably poised. A wine that will drink well into the second half of this century.
99 points, The West Australian (April 2020)
This is a superb edition of this revered, cabernet-based blend with such complete, seamless and elegant feel, yet there’s such depth of flavour, too. Aromas of fresh redcurrants, red and violet flowers, subtle spice, fresh earth, paper bark, fresh-picked thyme and sage, red berries and some cedary notes. The palate is stunning and has a brand of elegance with power that is found in only the greatest wines. Pristine mulberries, red plums, blueberries and red cherries sail through layers of fine tannin, into an unwaveringly long and vibrant finish. An exceptionally concentrated and convincing Diana Madeline release, this is one of their finest. A blend of 79% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 5% malbec. Delicious now, but his will bloom from 2028. Screw cap.
99 points, Nick Stock, jamessuckling.com, April 2020.
Deep, bright, youthful, concentrated purple/red colour which stains the glass. The aroma is fresh and young, fruit-driven and impressively concentrated; essency, with masses of blueberry, cassis, violet and blackberry flavours, underlined by a firm tannin backbone. There is cedar aplenty and loads of cabernet character. The tannins are very firm and it needs more time to mellow. The concentration has ramped up to a new level here. A high-quality wine of enormous potential. (79% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 6% cabernet franc, 5% malbec, aged in 50% new oak)
97 points, The Real Review (March 2020)
Margaret River
Located three hours south of Perth, Margaret River is Western Australia’s most prestigious wine-growing region. Serious vineyard development began only in the late 1960’s following the publication of a report by John Gladstones in 1965 stating that the area had a similar climate to Pomerol or St Emilion, with low frost risk, plenty of sunshine and equable temperatures within the growing season promoting even ripening. Margaret River’s climate is warm and maritime, with some cooling influence provided by southeast trade winds. The soils derive from granitic and a gneissic rock over which laterite has formed. The region can be divided in three sub-regions: the cooler south between Yallingup and Karridale with predominantly lateritic gravelly loamy sands and sandy loams; the warm and sunnier Willyabrup in the centre with predominantly gravelly loams, but some gritty sandy loams and granitic gravels; and Margaret River in the north with similar soils, but slightly cooler temperatures. This is entirely consistent with style; the wines from Willyabrup being more generous than the highly structured wines of the north and the elegant styles of the south. Margaret River is best known for high quality Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blends and top notch Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends. Over the years, the region has established an astonishing reputation illustrating a consistency in quality and a strongly focused winemaking culture.
Cullen
In 1966 Diana and Dr Kevin Cullen planted a trial 0.4 ha vineyard on their sheep and cattle property at Willyabrup in the Margaret River. A new vineyard was planted in 1971 with further plantings made over the subsequent decades. Winemaker and environmentalist Vanya Cullen, a strong believer in biodynamic viticulture, has harnessed the rhythms of the cosmos, earth’s energy and vitality to "achieve greater individuality of site through working with nature rather than against it". Meticulous attention to vineyard management results in fruit of exceptional intensity, concentration, tannin ripeness and acid balance. The “quest for quality, integrity and sustainability” is also reflected in the carbon neutral and naturally powered winery where sound winemaking techniques and skills are married with empathy for vineyard character.
