2016 Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernets
"The growing season for 2016 Diana Madeline was favourable with good spring rains and warm conditions. After three vintages of tiny yields we are delighted with this vintage giving us a wine of elegance, brilliant colour and purity of fruit. All the classic Cullen Vineyard Wilyabrup flavours are there: cassis, violets, chocolate and ironstone.
100% Cullen Vineyard. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot. Aged for 14 months in barriques of which 67% were new.
Deep crimson hue with magenta edges. Fantastic complexity and vitality with layers of dark fruits enhanced by gorgeous leafy notes. Elegant and fruit driven, silky palate delivering dark fruit notes and some chocolate bitterness. There is a lovely touch of spice melting into the fruit. A wine to watch as it unfolds, and to be enjoyed over the next decades." - Vanya Cullen, Chief Winemaker
98 Points - James Halliday
"Elegance personified, no compromise likewise. Then rack up extraordinary attention to detail, and the Wilyabrup district, the greatest part of the Margaret River. Given these parameters, the fluid grace of this beautiful wine might seem almost inevitable. But, of course, it's not - it's the distillation of two generations."
97 Points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review
"Very deep, bright purple/red colour leads into a sweetly ripe, rich berry and violet bouquet which is fruit-driven, vibrant and fresh. Blueberries and herbs. Wonderfully elegant and piercingly intense. An outstanding wine."
96 Points - The Wine Front
"Here’s a sleek wine of exquisite perfume and balance that treads lightly, but surely through the palate. Dances, even. There’s a quiet storm of graphite tannin, red and black fruits, a distinct pencil and mineral thing going on, clean fresh acidity, and a wonderfully long finish. It’s painting with water colours, to borrow a phrase, but gee it makes a beautiful picture. It’s rare to find a Cabernet with this level of poise and control. Yet again, Cullen is leading the pack."
"The growing season for 2016 Diana Madeline was favourable with good spring rains and warm conditions. After three vintages of tiny yields we are delighted with this vintage giving us a wine of elegance, brilliant colour and purity of fruit. All the classic Cullen Vineyard Wilyabrup flavours are there: cassis, violets, chocolate and ironstone.
100% Cullen Vineyard. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot. Aged for 14 months in barriques of which 67% were new.
Deep crimson hue with magenta edges. Fantastic complexity and vitality with layers of dark fruits enhanced by gorgeous leafy notes. Elegant and fruit driven, silky palate delivering dark fruit notes and some chocolate bitterness. There is a lovely touch of spice melting into the fruit. A wine to watch as it unfolds, and to be enjoyed over the next decades." - Vanya Cullen, Chief Winemaker
98 Points - James Halliday
"Elegance personified, no compromise likewise. Then rack up extraordinary attention to detail, and the Wilyabrup district, the greatest part of the Margaret River. Given these parameters, the fluid grace of this beautiful wine might seem almost inevitable. But, of course, it's not - it's the distillation of two generations."
97 Points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review
"Very deep, bright purple/red colour leads into a sweetly ripe, rich berry and violet bouquet which is fruit-driven, vibrant and fresh. Blueberries and herbs. Wonderfully elegant and piercingly intense. An outstanding wine."
96 Points - The Wine Front
"Here’s a sleek wine of exquisite perfume and balance that treads lightly, but surely through the palate. Dances, even. There’s a quiet storm of graphite tannin, red and black fruits, a distinct pencil and mineral thing going on, clean fresh acidity, and a wonderfully long finish. It’s painting with water colours, to borrow a phrase, but gee it makes a beautiful picture. It’s rare to find a Cabernet with this level of poise and control. Yet again, Cullen is leading the pack."
"The growing season for 2016 Diana Madeline was favourable with good spring rains and warm conditions. After three vintages of tiny yields we are delighted with this vintage giving us a wine of elegance, brilliant colour and purity of fruit. All the classic Cullen Vineyard Wilyabrup flavours are there: cassis, violets, chocolate and ironstone.
100% Cullen Vineyard. 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot. Aged for 14 months in barriques of which 67% were new.
Deep crimson hue with magenta edges. Fantastic complexity and vitality with layers of dark fruits enhanced by gorgeous leafy notes. Elegant and fruit driven, silky palate delivering dark fruit notes and some chocolate bitterness. There is a lovely touch of spice melting into the fruit. A wine to watch as it unfolds, and to be enjoyed over the next decades." - Vanya Cullen, Chief Winemaker
98 Points - James Halliday
"Elegance personified, no compromise likewise. Then rack up extraordinary attention to detail, and the Wilyabrup district, the greatest part of the Margaret River. Given these parameters, the fluid grace of this beautiful wine might seem almost inevitable. But, of course, it's not - it's the distillation of two generations."
97 Points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review
"Very deep, bright purple/red colour leads into a sweetly ripe, rich berry and violet bouquet which is fruit-driven, vibrant and fresh. Blueberries and herbs. Wonderfully elegant and piercingly intense. An outstanding wine."
96 Points - The Wine Front
"Here’s a sleek wine of exquisite perfume and balance that treads lightly, but surely through the palate. Dances, even. There’s a quiet storm of graphite tannin, red and black fruits, a distinct pencil and mineral thing going on, clean fresh acidity, and a wonderfully long finish. It’s painting with water colours, to borrow a phrase, but gee it makes a beautiful picture. It’s rare to find a Cabernet with this level of poise and control. Yet again, Cullen is leading the pack."
