Cullen Diana Madeline

The Cullen Estate Vineyard was planted in 1971 by Dr Kevin and Diana Cullen in the Wilyabrup subregion of Margaret River. Diana Madeline, the flagship red wine, takes its name from co-founder Diana Cullen and represents the culmination of more than five decades of estate farming. The wine draws exclusively from the home vineyard, making it a true single-estate expression of one of Australia's most storied wine properties.

• Vineyard established 1971 in Wilyabrup, the premium subregion of Margaret River
• Named in honour of co-founder Diana Cullen
• 100% estate fruit sourced from the original Cullen property
• Cullen was among Australia's first wineries to pursue biodynamic certification

Cullen Wines certified its vineyard organic in 2003 and biodynamic in 2004, becoming one of Australia's earliest adopters of biodynamic viticulture. The estate operates as Australia's first biodynamic and carbon-positive winery. Farming follows a biodynamic calendar based on lunar rhythms and the Wadandi seasonal cycles, integrating indigenous seasonal knowledge into vineyard management. This philosophy extends into the cellar, where biodynamic oak features in the maturation program.

• Organic certification achieved in 2003, biodynamic in 2004
• Australia's first carbon-positive winery
• Farming calendar incorporates lunar rhythms and Wadandi seasonal cycles
• Biodynamic oak used alongside conventional barriques and puncheons

The Cullen Estate sits at 40-100 metres above sea level on gravelly granite loams, with Forest Grove soils featuring ironstone gravels over ancient gneiss, schist, and granite bedrock. Margaret River's Mediterranean maritime climate delivers warm, dry growing seasons moderated by Indian Ocean breezes, with annual rainfall around 1,160mm concentrated in winter. Diurnal temperature variation is relatively low, and in dry vintages the climate draws frequent comparisons to Bordeaux. These conditions produce Cabernet Sauvignon with firm structure, balanced acidity, and precise varietal character.

• Soils are gravelly granite loams with ironstone gravels over ancient gneiss and schist
• Mediterranean maritime climate cooled by Indian Ocean breezes
• 1,160mm annual rainfall, mostly winter-concentrated
• Climate comparable to Bordeaux in dry vintages

Diana Madeline is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant Bordeaux blend, typically comprising 79-92% Cabernet Sauvignon alongside Merlot (4-10%), Cabernet Franc (3-6%), and Malbec (1-5%). Fermentation takes place in a mix of closed tanks, open fermenters, barrels, and amphora, with skin contact ranging from 10 to 99 days depending on the vintage and vessel. The wine is matured for 13-15 months in 50% new oak, using both barriques and puncheons including biodynamic oak. The result is an elegant, structured red with notes of herbs and spice and the capacity to age 10 or more years from vintage.

• Cabernet Sauvignon 79-92%, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec completing the blend
• Fermented across closed tanks, open fermenters, barrels, and amphora
• Skin contact ranges from 10 to 99 days
• Aged 13-15 months in 50% new oak barriques and puncheons

Diana Madeline holds Langton's 'Exceptional' classification, the highest tier in Australia's most respected secondary market ranking. Over 25 years of critical evaluation, James Halliday and other major critics have consistently awarded scores between 93 and 98 points. Priced at approximately $125-150 USD, it sits at a significant value premium compared to Napa Cabernet and classified Bordeaux of equivalent quality.

• Langton's 'Exceptional' classification, the pinnacle of the Australian fine wine hierarchy
• Consistently rated 93-98 points by James Halliday over 25 years
• Established as the regional benchmark red wine of Margaret River
• Priced $125-150 USD, considered exceptional value relative to Napa and Bordeaux equivalents