Cullen Diana Madeline 2023

99 Points Ray Jordan
99 Points Winepilot
98 Points Erin Larkin

The 2023 Diana Madeline is the culmination of over 50 years of dedication, effort and respect for the land. Hand-harvested over seven picks, starting in mid-March and culminating on a Moon opposite Saturn astral event in early April. Following this it matured for 14 months in 40% new French oak.

The final blend comprises 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot with the balance being small amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot.

Profound wine of vigorous depth and harmonious concentration. Fine grained tannins that wrap around the palate with a juicy and unctuous structure of plums rich chocolate, cassis, and cherries unfolding glances of cedar and sandalwood sitting with grace and silk length at the back palate. A great example of finesse.

“The 2023 Diana Madeline is an exciting wine. The 2023 season was mild, dry and quite spectacular. There was some rain at the very end of the red harvest, and this was a very site-specific thing, not widespread over the region. Aromatically, the wine is intensely perfumed: graphite and pressed lavender, wet rose petals, raspberry pip, liquorice, concrete and summer rain. This gives everything that I could hope for in an early-release Cabernet: dark fruit and exotic spice, mineral detail and more. The chalky and fine tannins shape the palate and spool out long over the finish. Is this the finest and best Diana Madeline made to date? Perhaps! What a wine. Highly recommended. It’s the perfect example of great Australian Cabernet: power without weight, look no further. 13.7% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. Here, the fruit was handpicked over seven dates, starting middle of March and culminating on a moon opposite the Saturn astral event in early April. The blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, with the 1% balance comprising Malbec and Petit Verdot.” –  98 Points Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate.

“Put bluntly, this is perhaps the finest young Australian Cabernet I can recall seeing. It is simply brilliant. The blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot, with that last one percent a mix of Malbec and Petit Verdot. The maturation was for fourteen months in French oak, with 40% of it new. An inky dark maroon colour, this is concentrated and seamless. We have aromas of dark, rich chocolate, cocoa beans, plums, beef stock, graphite, mulberries, cloves and blackberries. Elegance and refinement here, this is all class and there is wonderful length, with the wine finishing with the silkiest tannins. There is immaculate balance and amazing intensity and yet the wine dances with freshness and energy. The image that keeps appearing here is Muhammed Ali at his peak, dancing with grace. The more time in the glass or in an open bottle you can give it, the more rewards will come. Surely one of the greatest Cabernets made in this country, perhaps Vanya’s best ever, and it confirms that 2023 in Margaret River, a region of seemingly endless fine vintages – is truly special. Why not 100? I do feel it deserves it, but I simply do not trust Vanya not to come up with something even better next vintage.” –  99 Points Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.

“Okay. I’ve tasted every one of the Diana Madeline vintages, and I can say absolutely that I have never had a better one than this. Opens with a highly scented perfume that lifts exotically from the glass. Then notes of bay leaf and black olive fill out a little before more ethereal notes of violet and glazed cherry emerge. The palate carries the typical firm thread of tannin that marks the style, but there is a warm wrap of fleshy, succulent fruit. Structured and vibrant with an underlying energy. A wine of tremendous energy and verve. Great wine!” –  99 Points Ray Jordan.