Diana Madeline 2023

Cullen Diana Madeline 2023 – Margaret River, Australia

The 2023 vintage in Margaret River was marked by a dry spell through summer, low yields, and elegant ripeness—ideal conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon to express clarity and finesse.

The blend is described as 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot (with small amounts of Malbec and Petit Verdot), matured for 14 months in 40% new French oak.

In the glass, the color is deep ruby with a garnet rim. The bouquet opens with perfumed notes of black cherry, cassis, cocoa bean, liquorice, and hints of rose petal and violets, framed by subtle cedar and sandalwood.

On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, with juicy dark fruit—blackberry, plum, and cassis—wrapped in fine-grained tannins that lend structure without harshness. The mid-palate shows chocolate, cedar, and hints of forest floor, with a firm backbone of acidity that carries the wine with poise. The oak influence is present but restrained, integrating with the fruit rather than overshadowing it.

The finish is elegant and lingering, echoing dark fruit, forest spice, and graphite. While still youthful and evolving, this Diana Madeline shows the typicity of Margaret River Cabernet— a blend of power, purity, and refinement.

Estimated score: 94-97 points

Put bluntly, this is perhaps the finest young Australian Cabernet I can recall seeing. It is simply brilliant. The blend is 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot, with that last one percent a mix of Malbec and Petit Verdot. The maturation was for fourteen months in French oak, with 40% of it new. 

An inky dark maroon colour, this is concentrated and seamless. We have aromas of dark, rich chocolate, cocoa beans, plums, beefstock, graphite, mulberries, cloves and blackberries. Elegance and refinement here, this is all class and there is wonderful length, with the wine finishing with the silkiest tannins. There is immaculate balance and amazing intensity and yet the wine dances with freshness and energy. The image that keeps appearing here is Muhammed Ali at his peak, dancing with grace. The more time in the glass or in an open bottle you can give it, the more rewards will come. Surely one of the greatest Cabernets made in this country, perhaps Vanya’s best ever, and it confirms that 2023 in Margaret River – a region of seemingly endless fine vintages – is truly special. Why not 100? I do feel it deserves it, but I simply do not trust Vanya not to come up with something even better next vintage. 99.