2023 Cullen Legacy Diana Madeline 'Full Moon Oppersite Saturn' Cabernet

"One of the great names in Margaret River and Australian wine. Cullen makes one of Australia’s great cabernets and, in recent years, its chardonnays have been elevated to the top level."
- Ray Jordan

Cullen Wines:
Diana Madeline AM was a revered matriarch with a deep love for the world. Her passion for the Bordeaux blend led her to introduce both Merlot and Cabernet Franc to the Margaret River wine region in 1976. She had a particular fondness for the Cabernet family, especially Petit Verdot and Malbec. To honour her legacy and the exceptional 2023 vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon, we have crafted the inaugural release of a Legacy Series wine in her name.
 
This blend represents the first pick of Cabernet from the stellar 2023 vintage, occurring on a full Moon and Moon opposite Saturn harvest in early March. A co-fermented blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Malbec this wine was matured in 33% new French oak for 14 months.

99 Points, Andrew Caillard & Ken Gargett, The Vintage Journal
Not many wineries can claim to have three flagship reds, but for Cullens, not a problem. As well as the standard, Diana Madeline, not that there is anything standard about it, we have this wine and then the Vanya. All three were produced in the wonderful 2023 vintage. Obviously, the Diana Madeline is the value play, but the three wines are all different and all spectacular. They each have so much to offer that I couldn’t split them and gave them each 99. I would never argue with anyone who went the extra point, but my concern is that when Vanya tops these, as she surely will, where do you go?

The blend here is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Malbec. The grapes were harvested under a full moon on 7th March, Moon Opposite Saturn Harvest, hence the MOSH. Maturation was for fifteen months in barriques, one-third of them new. Black purple in colour, the nose weaves its way through aromas of spices, mulberries, florals, blackberries, bruised plums, leather, dried herbs, charcuterie and spices. There is a hint of toasty oak still evident, but integration is proceeding well and all the wine needs is time. Seductively textured, there is wonderful length here and the wine is immaculately balanced throughout. It finishes with the finest of silky tannins. A stunning Cabernet which will drink beautifully for the next quarter of a century.

98 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review &
Ranked #2 of 21 - 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon blends from Margaret River
Very deep, bright purple-red hue with a lovely cedar, mulberry, cassis and violet bouquet, fresh and bell-clear cabernet varietal aromas. It's full bodied, powerful, concentrated and plush, with masses of tannins creating a firm but balanced structure and lingering farewell. A statuesque cabernet blend that adds further lustre to the Cullen brand. How does it differ from the regular DM? Slightly finer and more polished tannins, and more elegance overall, but it's a fine line.

96 Points - Campbell Mattinson, campbellmattinson.com
This is the first Diana Madeline release under the Legacy Series. The grapes for this wine were from the first of cabernet of the 2023 harvest. This wine is a co-fermented blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and malbec.

This wine is sensational for its elegance. It carries fresh, vibrant, vital fruit, ripe and juicy, but it doesn’t shout its flavours, and it holds all of its notes without straining. This wine is the result of a long and practised tutelage. It’s all berries and bay, graphite and herbs, its woodsmoke notes playing softly. The length of the finish, as prolonged as it is, is mere confirmation of this wine stellar quality.