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2019 Diana Madeline Magnum

The 2019 Diana Madeline was born of a low yielding (cabernet sauvignon 4.75 tonnes per hectare, merlot 2.13 tonnes per hectare, cabernet franc 4.01 tonnes per hectare, Malbec 3.43 tonnes per hectare) warm vintage.

The vines were planted in 1971 on ancient gravelly granite soils, producing a wine of great quality, elegance, perfume and balance.

Predominately Fruit days with one harvest occurring on a Full Moon perigee with a supporting fruit trine.

Skin contact time ranged from 10-29 days before being gently basket pressed to barrel. It has spent an average of 15 months in oak, with 45% new oak, in a mixture of biodynamic barriques and puncheons.

The varietal blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot.  The wine will age for up to 50 years. 2350 dozen made.

Vintage Notes

The defining weather event in the 2019 vintage was the frost in October, which caused a 60% yield reduction in our chardonnay, this was due to timing and the chardonnay being and early variety to go through budburst.

The weather conditions were relatively kind during the growing season although cooler, and harvest was short and sweet. This couldn’t have been better, as rains fell heavily shortly after harvest finished at Cullen’s. We are very excited about the quality of wines from the 2019 harvest, typical of a low yield year. Because of the cooler conditions there was no food for the birds and nets were being taken off as we were harvesting to prevent damage. If you didn’t have nets there was no harvest as the birds were starving. A low year for honey also as no blossom on the gum trees and cooler conditions.

Winemaker Notes

Vineyard: 100% Cullen Vineyard.

Varieties:87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot

Harvest: 20th March to 3rd April 2019

Oak: Aged for 15 months in barriques of which 45% were new

Alcohol:  13.5%

Tasting Notes

Colour: Deep mulberry, ripe cherry with purple hues, showing youth, and vitality. Cellar: Up to 50 years. Bouquet: Delicious aromas, and deeply perfumed, violets, wild rose, mulberry, satsuma plum and cigar box. An intoxicating nectar of cabernet sauvignon and family, and classic old vine, low yielding and intensity. Palate: An elegant, perfumed, wine. Light and intense, with fruit density, balance and opulent, in that Cabernet Sauvignon seductive way. The wines fine tannins, float across the palate…. Revealing plum, rose, chocolate, ironstone and cigar box. The list of adjectives goes on and on into an infinite taste of Cullen Wilyabrup Diana Madeline - from a great vintage equal if not better than the great 2018.

$450.00

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Previous Releases

  • 2016 Diana Madeline Magnum

    This wine is elegant and fruit driven, with a silky palate delivering dark fruit notes and some chocolate bitterness.

    Read more    View Tasting Notes