2024 Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Made from biodynamically farmed fruit across both the Cullen and Mangan vineyards, this is a more relaxed take on the flagship Diana Madeline, though the pedigree is unmistakable. The fruit—mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a good splash of Merlot—was harvested early in February during one of the driest vintages on record, bringing in small but deeply concentrated berries.

Fermentation was wild and gentle, with skin contact ranging from 5 to 11 days depending on the parcel. It was then matured in mostly seasoned French oak for 8 months (only 23% new), allowing the wine to soften without losing its focus.

You can crack into this now and enjoy its plush feel and fine tannins, but give it a few years and it’ll flesh out beautifully. A quiet overachiever in Cullen’s line-up.

94 points
"A very purple tasting wine here with a mix of blue and black fruits, pimento/capsicum, baking spice, dried roses, and something a bit ferrous. It’s medium-bodied, but quite thick and chewy, not polished up too much, and also has some bitter dark chocolate in the mix, blackcurrant, dried herbs, balanced acidity, and a finishes with some roast red capsicum and a fair bit of perfume. Lots of Cullen in your glass at pretty fair price, if you take my meaning."
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)