2019 Cullen Diana Madeline

98 POINTS

Huon Hooke - The Real Review

Deep red colour with strong purple reflections. The bouquet is fresh and youthful but surprisingly complex in its youth, revealing violet, blueberry, raspberry and any number of other berry fruit aromas, cherry and dark plum, too, with oak influences evident but discreetly tucked into the wine. It's full-bodied and firm, the tannins perhaps a little more grippy and assertive than usual in this wine, the structure formidable and undoubtedly will endow it with long ageing prospects. Great intensity, power and drive through the palate, the finish long and super-satisfying. A very concentrated DM. It can be enjoyed now but should be cellared for best results. (87% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 2% malbec, 1% petit verdot. Matured in 45% new French oak for 15 months)

98 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec with 45% new oak. 2,350 dozen made. Incredible power and concentration here, and yet, still lithe and so finely wrought. It’s ultra-mineral in feel with iron and dense graphite tannin, but perfumed and spice-laden too. The quality and feel of tannin here is something quite extraordinary. Plum and dark cherry, dark tobacco, whiff of empty chocolate box, superb length of flavour. Essence of Cabernet. Essential Cabernet. We’ve never had it so good.

98 POINTS

Erin Larkin - Halliday's Wine Companion

87% Cabernet sauvignon, with 7/3/2/1% merlot/cabernet franc/malbec/petit verdot. Matured for 15 months in barrique, 45% new. Cassis and red licorice on the nose, bay and salt bush, too. The palate is salty and fine with layers upon layers of spice and texture. The tannins are like finely textured gills, stacked as delicately as the folds in a mushroom. The length of flavour unfurls and extends across the palate, taking so long to fade that this entire tasting note is possible off one sip. The rest are just for pleasure. Drink it now, or in 40+ years from now… both will be possible.

96 POINTS

Mike Bennie - The Wine Front

Blind tasted in a panel – 60-or-so cabernet-based wines from Western Australia. Rich, sweet fruited scents with some creamy, vanilla character overlaid. Dark berries to taste, sweetish fruit there, soft, supple texture, slippery tannins finish in a light chew, currants, raisins in the mix too. Even, generous, but holds medium weight despite the additional sense of generosity. So much detail here. Serious wine.