2022 Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet, Margaret River

Most Collected WA Red, #2 Most Collected Cabernet 

Top 20 Most Collected Wines 2024 Wineark

An Australian icon. The nose is deeply perfumed and elegant with an underlying power, giving aromas of blackcurrants, mulberry bush, tobacco leaves, violets, blueberries and ferric earth. The full-bodied palate has seamless tannins and an incredible array of complex flavors: wild-blackberry compote, graphite, tea leaves, blood plums, dark cherries and mocha. A superb wine that will live for decades to come. Made from 89% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% malbec, farmed biodynamically. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

97 points jamessuckling.com

The 2022 Diana Madeline is a blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec that matured for 14 months in 55% new French oak. 2022 was a warm but superb vintage in Margaret River, and the reds (particularly the reds) are ripe, fleshy, succulent and svelte. This 2022 Diana Madeline leads with pomegranate and raspberry, salted licorice, bay leaf and saltbush, and it even smells svelte. Superb. In the mouth, the wine has all the black tea, graphite, coal dust, cacao and nori that we have come to love and expect from this wine. I love the way it feels in my mouth, and I love the draw of flavor across the palate. No doubt this vintage will ignite the usual "I prefer cool vintages/I prefer warm" debate; however, I am on record many times expressing my favoritism for vintages like 2018 over 2019, despite them both being equally excellent wines. You go your own way; it's merely a matter of preference. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

97 points Erin Larkin robertparker.com

The best wines are distinctive with a clear DNA link to place. Diana Madeline is one such wine. An excellent deep purple hue with an ever-changing array of aromas: one minute spice, mulberries and cocoa when first poured, and next full of savoury notes of black olive tapenade, nori and menthol. As usual, it’s beautifully framed yet the fuller-bodied palate is plumped up by textural, expansive tannins and finishes long. Get a spot ready in the cellar, this has time on its side.

97 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

Deep, bright red-purple colour with a reserved, shy bouquet that leads into a similarly latent palate where masses of fine tannins lie stealthily in wait. Subtle violet and blackberry traces. There is tremendous depth and muscle to this wine but it is still a little in its shell and needs more time to open. Masses of tannin bode well for its future in the cellar. Decanting may work if broaching it young. (89% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 3% malbec. Aged in 55% new oak for 14 months).

98 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com #1 of 31 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon blends from Margaret River

Really delivers as you might expect from this excellent concentrated and powerfully frame vintage in Margaret River. It’s dominant cabernet with smaller portions of merlot, cabernet franc and malbec. Typical of this wine since switching to biodynamics, it is bright and brilliant with a nervy tense energy to drive the palate. The succulent fruit is harnessed by fine chalky tannins and neatly played oak of which 55% was new. A wine of extraordinary elegance and poise with a few of many decades.

98 points Ray Jordan winepilot.com

Needless to say, Margaret River enjoyed another superb vintage with the 2022 season. Slightly cooler, Cullen report that it was a vintage of “immense perfume and texture”. This wine will be released early February to coincide with Diana’s 101st birthday.

The wine is a wonderfully vibrant purple in colour. The nose gives up plums, cassis, spices including nutmeg, chocolate, mocha, bay leaves, cigar box notes – think a freshly opened box of Cohiba Siglo VI – and near perfect oak integration. This is finely balanced and exhibiting immense length. The palate sees the emergence of aniseed, mulberries and coffee beans. An alluringly supple palate with the silkiest of tannins, though plenty of them – there really is some grip here. This will easily sail through fifteen to twenty years in a good cellar

98 points Ken Gargett winepilot.com

Juicy rich structure, rich chocolate, mulberry, cherry with beautiful fine grained tannins supporting ethereal fruit with unctuous texture and complexity inviting you back for another taste and glass of this delicious wine. Drinks well now and will last for at least 50 years.

The 2022 Diana Madeline is a culmination of over 50 years of dedication effort and respect for the land to make the best quality wine. The vintage was perfect for elegant cabernet sauvignon, with warm conditions early and then cooler conditions making it an epic vintage with reds ripening earlier than usual. Hand harvested over 5 biodynamic calendar days from 12th March to 16th March, three flower days and culminating on a full Moon fruit day when Venus and Saturn were in conjunction.

An average of 30 days on skins. The wine spent 14 months in 55% new oak. In a mixture of biodynamic barriques and puncheons. The final blend comprises 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec.

The Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted in 1971, Merlot 1976, Cabernet Franc 1976 and Malbec in 1978… beautiful old vine wine.

Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet from Margaret River is an iconic Australian wine that represents the pinnacle of biodynamic viticulture and elegant winemaking. Named in honor of winery founder Diana Cullen, this Cabernet blend is a benchmark for Margaret River’s Bordeaux-style reds. Produced from the Cullen family’s historic vineyards, planted in 1971, the wine reflects a deep connection to place and meticulous vineyard management under the direction of Vanya Cullen, one of Australia’s most respected winemakers. The estate has been certified biodynamic since 2004, focusing on minimal intervention and a holistic approach to winemaking.

Deep garnet in color, Diana Madeline offers a complex bouquet of blackcurrant, mulberry, and dark plum, interwoven with notes of bay leaf, cedar, and graphite. The palate is refined and structured, with fine-grained tannins framing flavors of cassis, redcurrant, and a touch of dark chocolate. A distinctive mineral edge and bright acidity provide balance and freshness, leading to a long, elegant finish with hints of tobacco and dried herbs.

This wine is a natural pairing for roast lamb, beef fillet, and aged cheeses. Its complexity and structure also make it an excellent match for venison or mushroom-based dishes. While approachable in its youth, Diana Madeline is built to age gracefully for 15–20 years, developing further depth and nuance over time.

Cullen Diana Madeline has received countless accolades, consistently earning top scores and recognition as one of Australia’s finest wines. Vanya Cullen’s unwavering commitment to quality and sustainability has cemented its status as a flagship wine of the Margaret River region.