Cullen, Diana Madeline, Margaret River

The Legend starts life within its shell. Youthful fresh primary and a touch of graphite, still some vanilla in the secondary and now the classic Bordeaux tertiary flavours. In the final glass, The Legend emerges. A wine so good it is possibly in a mid life dumb phase. Hold yours for a while - or prioritise securing some. A Medium+ bodied wine with black and red fruit, violet, graphite & black pepper primary, cedar & vanilla secondary and cigar box …

2004 vintage

Still getting mint and eucalyptus on the nose. Palate is fresh but with a heft and structure. Meaty finish and still some tannins lurking. Long finish. Drinking beautifully.

2004 vintage

Second wine drank as part of a Xmas lunch with turkey. Followed an excellent Isole & olena cepparello (2013 vintage) and was as good or a tad just under that bottle. Decanted for approx 4 hours and really opened up. Under screwcap. I think that helped as the wine did not show any real age and could not distinguish it in the glass from the 2013 sangiovese we just had. In the glass it was very vibrant and ruby red. …

2004 vintage

Compared alongside Mt Mary of same vintage it lacks fragrance. Has more texture, fat soft tannins, blacker fruited, less bright acid. More plummy merlot.

2004 vintage

BWC France vs The Rest of the World Blind Pairs (Petts Wood) : Served blind. Dark fruits, redcurrant jelly and some Rooibos tea on the nose. Palate has prominent acids and is a touch sour initially, air improves matters somewhat and some plum fruit makes an appearance. Decent.

2010 vintage

What a gorgeous wine in a gorgeous place. The fruit has relaxed somewhat, but still beautifully polished black fruits with an almost incense like coating of spice and mint. Perfumed and silky with great length, the tannins have started to soften considerably. I don't think this has upside for my palate, but it's certainly going to coast a while.

2004 vintage

Dark. Surprisingly muted nose. Not what I expected at all. Dense, dark fruited, with prominent acid (to balance?). Screwcap, 14%

2004 vintage

From magnum, decanted ~1hr. Dark and brooding with blackcurrant, lead pencil, and tobacco but also fresh with capsicum and eucalyptus. The pyrazines were too strong for some people's liking around the table but I thought this was drinking beautifully and would still have had years.

2002 vintage

the last of my bottles and drunk in good time, I think - it has a distant core of fruit but the wood now dominates

2004 vintage

Screw cap. 80% CS, 12% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot. 13% alc. PnP. Dark core with slight bricking. Cedar, pencil shavings, cassis, mulberry. Perfumed. Medium bodied with good intensity and carry. The acid, oak and tannins are in harmony with the fruit. Looking the goods tonight.

2002 vintage

Cork sealed bottle. Quick small glass only 5 min after opening - heresy! Cassis, dusty gum tree Aussie bush Margs nose, small berries. Superb balance. Fully excellent length. Fair odds this bottle would be better a few hours after opening, and well cellared bottles would improve for another decade. Scoring what’s in front of me, knowing I didn’t see the best of it.

2004 vintage

Screw cap. 14% alc. Deep garnet core with minimal bricking. Sweet cassis, eucalyptus, dried herbs. Mid to full weight. Punchy palate, with bright berry fruit flavours and a tight core. Fine, silty tannins on the finish. After an hour or so, there’s dark chocolate and more cassis. Still punchy and bright.

2004 vintage

29/12/24. Drank with Last Friday wine group. Opened both a bottle with screw top and one with cork. Blind tasting. Group thought Merlot was obvious parter to the Cabernet. Both big fruit. Bold .Screw cap fresher and probably better drinking. Both enjoyed.

2004 vintage

Langtons classification tasting (Hyatt Regency, Sydney) : Red over black currant fruit, cedar. Simple nose. Drying woody tannins dominate the palate. I find it ironic that as Bordeaux becomes more approachable in it's youth, Australia becomes less.

2021 vintage

20 years with time remaining, deep color rich red fruit and plumb, needs an hour great with grilled striploins.

2004 vintage

Tasted at winery in Margaret River. Appearance: Clear, medium-deep ruby. Nose: Clean, medium+ intensity with aromas of plum, blackberry, cedar, clove, and violet. Palate: Dry, medium+ acid, medium+ tannin, medium+ intensity, medium+ body, 13.5% abv with developing flavors of plum, black cherry, graphite, and capsicum with a medium+ finish. A fantastic wine drinking superbly in its youth. Tremendous potential here, needs 4-6 years and will drink well for a decade plus.

2021 vintage

Superb

2010 vintage

Needs a decent decant, preferably 1+ hour. Salted Dark chocolate, raspberries, a hint of tobacco. Wonderful length. Beautiful wine! It’s still on the accent. 96

2004 vintage

DM Vertical with Vanya Cullen @ 67PM. First vintage of the tasting to show MR typicality, and the first with all Bordeaux varietals present. Fuller, forward leaning, although tannins appeared to be completely integrated. Not much fruit showing. 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc.

2014 vintage

DM Vertical with Vanya Cullen @ 67PM. Most typical MR producer profile on the nose (sweet rose petals), which also made this the most atypical Diana Madeline at the tasting. This was in fact more similar to the Vanya, but obviously less polished. Aged in amphora which apparently results in increased liveliness of the tannins on the front palate. Nowhere near ready - lay this down and pick it up in 10 years.

2021 vintage

At 19 years of age, this Diana Madeline is right in the zone. After removing the perfect cork, the wine was rearing to go. Aromas of cassis, blackberry, and plum are joined by menthol and eucalyptus, high quality dark chocolate, and a light touch of cedar. All very well integrated. Unlike some other tasters, I'm not getting any heaviness or jammy flavours. Quite the opposite in fact, this is still quite youthful, brimming with vigour, and focused with some fine …

2004 vintage

Cullen Vineyards Masterclass (Praelum Wine Bistro) : Deep purple, with a violet hue. Deep floral and sweetish plum aromas, as well as liquorice, cut grass, black pepper, tea leaves, and slight coffee. Full bodied, with an expansive broad tannin feel, whilst being soft yet bitey, bright acids, and intense blackberry and black cherry flavours, with a slight feel of jammy ripeness at the core and backpalate, the pepper, paprika, and cedar. Very lengthy and complex. Lovely, but extremely young. Look …

2021 vintage

Real Review - Top Wineries of Australia (Ovolo, Wooloomooloo) : Rich with ripe black hued fruits and a red currant underpin, sweet spice, touch of pyrazine. Medium plus intensity acidity, a splash of fruit is easily sweet aside by a tannic tsunami leaving a sense of loss in the mouth and wallet.

2021 vintage

Real Review Top Wineries tasting (Ovolo Hotel Woolloomooloo) : {13.5%, screwcap, $160} Quite fragrant blackcurrant and herbs. A contrast with the palate, which is dominated by high chalky tannins and an astringent finish. The fruit flavours carried over from the nose disappear quickly under the tannic assault, despite the otherwise medium-bodied character of the wine. Medium length finish. I’m not sure this is really balanced enough to age properly, I must say.

2021 vintage

Absolutely superb, patience rewarded! Glorious dark fruit, all the traditional Margaret River leafiness gone, no dry astringency, spicy, invigorating and sublime texture. Fabulous!

2004 vintage

I found it quite enjoyable. The nose was filled with blackcurrant, oak, and a hint of eucalyptus. Taking a sip, I noticed a smooth blend of black fruit and chocolate flavors. This wine was amazing right out of the bottle after decanting. As I continued to taste the wine, I picked up on some complex leather and cigar box notes, which really added depth to the overall experience. The finish was long and satisfying.

2004 vintage

A magnum given by a friend.The cork disintegrated on opening but the wine was surprisingly not impacted.Decanted for over 2 hours.Good balanced nose.The wine was drinking à point and will continue for a few years.Ripe tannins with jammy fruit as Aussies often are.A lovely winter wine.

2004 vintage

Company CNY dinner at One Farrer. Cork closure. Drank in Grassl Cru. Not as good as the 2001. Appearance is clear, deep intensity, ruby garnet colour. Sediments towards the end of decanter. Legs. Nose medium intensity, with aromas of earth, soy, dried blackberris, dried dark plums. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium acidity, medium alcohol (13%), soft resolved tannins, medium+ body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of black fruit and plum drying out, soy + earth, green herbaceousness with more …

2002 vintage

Really great wine. I had some 2004 before which I thought had passed it’s prime. This was great. Light oak minimal tannins and lots of dark fruit flavours. Had with some great steak.

2004 vintage

Stunning wine. Still so alive and vital. A deep nose of blackcurrent, plum, with mint, flowers and the only sign of age is some leather and earth notes towards the end. A gloriously rich palate of black fruits and mint, with chewy but ripe tannins and a firm acid frame. Some secondary notes appear at the end but this doesn’t taste like an 18 year old wine Purity, and elegance is what strikes you about this wine. An Australian icon …

2004 vintage

Was disappointed on opening, but it blossomed with a lot of time and air. Supple palate, secondary aromas. Feel it might not have too long a life ahead of it. Drinking well now if you decant.

2004 vintage

Pretty comparable to my previous note - little evolution over the past three years. The purity of the fruit and fine woven texture of the wine remains stunning. The St. Julien comparison stands. If anything the secondary characteristics, while present, were rather subdued. I'll revisit in another three years.

2004 vintage

Quite flat & uninteresting... Far better & cheaper in this class around.

2010 vintage

It was like a young wine and hard to point out. With screw cap and perhaps that did the trick. Very Dark and Cab. notes. Peter was surpriced , he got it blind.

2004 vintage

Colour does not suggest the 20 year age of this wine. Bright dark ruby red; sweet dark fruit on the nose with just a touch of mineral notes. Fruit driven palate with ripe tannins still notable. Enjoyable now but not sure if the fruit will outlast the tannins. Moderate finish.

2002 vintage

2 hour decant nose of dark fruits so smooth on the attack and puts on weight in the mouth as the bottle goes. It has delivered great value having purchased upon release after returning from Australian roadtrip

2004 vintage

way too young. Only decanted for an hour and it was not enough. Opened up through the evening

2014 vintage

Immediately on opening there's rather opulent dark fruit with secondary notes with sweetness and spicy cassis aromas. Very balanced with great fruit, fine almost resolved tannin, freshness, elegance and poise. Medium weight. Finishes somewhat short. A point, drink now and another 10 years on. No rush. Also a bargain for the quality level!

2010 vintage

Appearance: Deep mahogany core, ruby at rim. Not too much brick/tawny yet. Nose: blackberries and blackcurrant, cedar/oak, earth and dark florals. Palate: medium to full bodied. Ripe round fruit. Velvety texture with a good finish. Fine grippy tannins. Very good but not the best DM I've had. Will be good for a few more years.

2002 vintage

Good

2014 vintage

This is a wine that will divide people between those who enjoy its over the top exuberance and those who look for a little more elegance in their Cabernet. Objectively, it is excellent, so the issue is one of style and mood. The colour from a screw cap sealed bottle showed almost no signs of brick, merely a little fading- the colour was deep and youthful. The nose revealed a lot of vanillan oak and buckets of ripe fruit in …

2004 vintage

Extremely young and fresh. The cork is in perfect condition. Vibrant red and black fruits, capsicum, cedar, forest floor, cloves. Pencil shave comes through on the palate. New world wine in old world style. Super balance. Nothing is yelling at me but everything is singing together. Absolutely love the tannin structure. Present yet silky and super fine tannins. The wine just slides through the throat without noticing it. Elegance yet intense. Medium plus intensity, medium plus close to long finish. …

2002 vintage

Dark ruby colored. In the nose dark berries, tobacco and soft meaty notes. On the palate black currant, dark cherries, smoked meat, soft vanilla and soft mushroom notes. The palate feels quite polished and cool - interesting. Medium bodied with a medium acidity. Silky tannins. Medium complexity and depth but a great overall balance. If tasted blind I probably would have guessed Bordeaux from a cooler vintage. It’s starting to develop some nice tertiary notes. Finish is medium long. It …

2010 vintage

Margaret River Tasting (Bistro Cocotte, Haberfield) : Pyrazine, slight eucalyptus, sweet spice, and a touch of pepperiness, blackcurrant under this, leather, slight baked earth on the nose. Juicy, fleshy, plentiful talc textured tannnins, alcohol controlled, dark hued fruit is a little baked but this is pretty good as these go for me...

2002 vintage

Very good

2014 vintage

Decantered for 3 hours. Very nice, has improved since my last tasting and likely more to come. 95-96

2014 vintage

Biodynamic winery. Clearly unfiltered (little bit hazy). 77% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, rest petit verdot, malbec and cabernet franc. Fruit driven, complex, great length. Very well done Bordeaux blend from the Aussies. Medium intense aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, red plum, vanilla, toast, espresso, black pepper, tobacco, bay leaf, liqourice, eucalyptus. Dry wine, medium+ acidity, medium+ and fine tannins, medium body, pronounced flavour intensity, long finish. 13% - Sommelier tasting @ Pinot

2010 vintage

12/20. Drank with NB and LH. Excellent. Well rounded, MR character, good fruit. Decanted 3 hours pre. Drink over next 4 years.

2004 vintage

Mini vertical with the 2005 Diana Madeline. Cork disintegrated and the wine smelt like a dusty cupboard upon opening, but after a 2 hour decant this showed very well on the night. An oustanding expression of Margaret River cabernet and imo Australia’s foremost bordeaux blend. 84% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot, 3% cabernet franc at 14% abv. This had more depth and richness compared to the 2005. Not a style I would actively seek out but this gave a lot of …

2004 vintage

This Cullen needs at least 2 hours of decanting in the bottle for the nose to open up to a soft, fresh and ripe blue fruits with tar, smoked sausage, mineral stones and leather. Palate is savoury and spicy with generous but gentle berries fruits. A touch of power in the mid-palate before transiting to a smooth and lingering finish. The tannins is softened after decanting, providing a good support to the rounded structure. Let the wine age for another …

2014 vintage

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Cullen, Diana Madeline, Margaret River

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