2012 Cullen Diana Madeline
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The 2012 Diana Madeline hails from a sensational, warm and balanced season in Margaret River, and the wines—especially the reds—show it. On the nose, there are notes of graphite, dark chocolate, petrichor, dried bay leaf and licorice. In the mouth, the wine is fresher and more elegant than the aromas would suggest, and the impact of this confluence is one of increased complexity and charm. The wine has real life on the palate and length through the finish. The 2012s are gorgeous wines. This has it is spades. 13.2% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. According to the technical data supplied by Cullen Wines, all of the Cabernet Sauvignon crop was harvested over the full moon fruit days of March 7, 8 and 9. After harvest, the grapes were partly crushed and then placed with the whole berries into tank for fermentation. They received pump-overs and remained on the skins for an average of 21 days. The ripeness of the tannins enabled them to leave the wines in contact with the skins for this length of time. After pressing, the wine was put into barriques, which were a blend of 38% new, for 19 months.
Critic scores
James Halliday
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc. Winemaker Vanya Cullen. Vineyard planted in 1971 on own rootstock. Forest Grove, sandy loam duplex soils. Certified biodynamic. Cabernet is Houghton clone. Wet growing season followed by hot January. Harvest 31 January to 11 March. Varieties fermented separately with ambient yeasts. Aged for 19 months in French oak barriques (38% new). Shaded ruby. Fully evolved nose suddenly makes the 2020 look just a tad callow! Really rather beautiful. Lifted and seductive. Still dry on the end – definitely a wine for the table. Long – very long indeed. No blockbuster but a model of restraint and balance. I wonder whether it will ever shed its tannins completely? (JR)
Still very fresh and youthful blueberry, mulberry and blackcurrant with some chocolate and sweet earth. Gently leafy with some dried forest wood, this is still very fresh. The palate is super fine and elegant, very focused and linear, with a core of succulent, fresh dark-berry flavor that runs along a central spine. So impressive and really poised. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
' The most classic vintage ever.' 64 tonnes of fruit with the full moon rising over the Diana Madeline plot as they received the last lot of fruit. Aged for 19 months in French oak barriques (38% new). Silky satiny – beautiful texture. Fantastic tightrope balance. Minerally dancing; so alive! Lots there. Absolutely classic claret no matter where it comes from. (JR)