DIANA MADELINE CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT 2001

  
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Perhaps Cullen's best known wine, this blend was recently included in the prestigious Langton classification of Australian wines. The vines planted in 1971 are 30 years old. On average the yields are around two tons per acre, or 26 hectolitres per hectare, giving great concentration to the wine. They are grown on the Scott Henry trellising system, which yields grapes with ripe tannins and flavours. This wine is typically a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The varieties are vinified separately and matured in French oak for 18 months. The result is a deeply coloured wine with great depth of flavour, fine grain tannins and outstanding cellaring potential.

Tasting notes   Reviews
   

The Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot is thus named in honour of Di Cullen, who has contributed so much to the development of Cullen Wines.

Even in this early stage of development, this wine looks like becoming the best Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot since the 1995 vintage. The quality of this wine reflects the presence of optimal conditions for the development of red grape varieties. The “Indian Summer” that prevailed in 2001, with dry and warm days extending into late March proved particularly beneficial for Cabernet Sauvignon, which is a late ripening variety.

The fruit for this wine exhibited perfect physiological ripeness, which has imparted great power. The grapes were picked at Baumés ranging from 13.0 to 14.3º, which has contributed to the complexity of the wine. The wine, which comprises a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot, was matured for 18 months mainly in new or one year old French oak.

The Cullens have decided to bottle 100 cases of this wine under Stelvin closure so that they can compare the way in which the wine develops under this form of capsule with that exhibited using traditional corks.

Colour: Dense, mulberry red
Bouquet: Attractive blend of mulberry, spice and savoury aromas
Palate: The vibrant and complex blend of concentrated fresh and rich cherry and plum flavours are perfectly balanced by the excellent tannins. Great structure, length and persistence
Cellaring: At least 15 years
Food: Beef, venison and lamb
 

Ray Jordan's Guide to Wine 2003/2004

A fitting tribute to the great lady of Margaret River. This awesome statement of cabernet and merlot seems almost incongruous if measured against the frail Di Cullen of her later years. Still, as with the lady herself, there is style, class and great inner strength that drives it to classic proportions. Still tight and restrained when tasted and clearly there are years ahead of it. 96/100

The West Australian Fresh
Ray Jordan Thursday, 13 November 2003

Consistently outstanding and this is one of the finest - perhaps even the finest - yet released. Sets the benchmark for the blend, which has evolved into an icon among Australian red wines. It was a pretty close call between this and the outstanding Houghton sauvignon blanc, but in the end I couldn't have slept had I given the nod to a sauvignon blanc. A truly great wine.


Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE
Stocking the Cellar - Max Allen, Philip Rich and Sharon Wild October/November 2003

"Really, what more can be said about Cullen Wines - their exemplary cabernet merlot, or the influence and inspiration that Di Cullen brought to Australian wine culture? But as soon as you stick your nose in a glass of this extraordinary wine, the mind suddenly fills with things to say. The wine has all the perfume, intensely concentrated red and blackberry fruit flavour, and cedary, lingering wispy tannins you expect from these two varieties grown in a classic, mature, low-yielding Margaret River vineyard, but its all held together in such a harmonious, effortless way that it makes you catch your breath. Seems unnecessary to point out that it will age gracefully for at least two decades."