2021 Diana Madeline
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2021 Diana Madeline

2021 Diana Madeline

2021 vintage marks the 50th year of plantings for cabernet sauvignon at the Cullen Wilyabrup vineyard. Serendipity allows it also to be Diana Madeline’s 100th year, beginning on 11th February 2023. It’s incredible to imagine the times of planting in 1971, with no real knowledge of how things would turn out, just faith and great vision to feed the early pioneers of the region, we are talking and tasting the 50th vintage and the region is going from strength to strength on the national and international stage.

This wine is the culmination of over 50 years of dedication effort and respect for the land. The quest for better quality wine made using sustainable methods.

The grapes for this wine were hand harvested on the biodynamic fruit and flower days across 5 picks from the middle of March to the super Moon Flower day two weeks later (including a Moon opposite Saturn fruit day harvest). It was then aged in 50% new oak for a period of 15 months with barriques and puncheons and biodynamic barrels included.

VINEYARD
100% Cullen Vineyard
VARIETIES
91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc & 2% Malbec
HARVEST
Fruit and flower days between 12th and 28th March, including a MOSH fruit and a super Moon flower day.
OAK
15 months in 50% new oak
ALCOHOL
13.5%
Vintage Notes
Tasting Notes
Reviews

The 2021 vintage was defined by Covid and staffrestrictions for hand harvesting. The low yields ensured that the crop was harvested at optimal condition and ripeness. Bird pressure was high and rain events during the growing seasons and also throughout harvest provided challenges.

In spite of these adverse conditions, in Wilyabrup, we finished harvest in good time and are very happy with the wines. Standout varieties; Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon.

  • Colour Deep garnett mulberry, purple meniscus.
  • Cellar Now or cellar up to 50 years.
  • Bouquet Cherries, ironstone, dark chocolate, cedar, rose, plum; the aromas singing with sweet power on this flower day of tasting, lifting out of the glass and filling the room.
  • Food Margaret River wagu beef, Akardy lamb.
  • Palate A truely profound wine with great depth, length, and concentration. The fine tannins wrap around the front palate and the flavours of plum, salty plum, dark chocolate, cherry, cedar, rose and sandalwood flow energetically,.. leaving a long, juicy unctuous finish. The complexity reflects the vines; 50 years since planting.

Author:Ray Jordan

Publication:Wine Pilot

Score:98 points

‘This is a triumph for the vineyard in what was a challenging year in Margaret River. Low yields, birds and rain events all conspired to make things tough but a rigorous biodynamic approach in the vineyard and later in the winery has resulted in a magnificent expression of a slightly cooler climate Margaret River cabernet. High end florals on the nose with notes of violet and red berry overpaying the deeper blackcurrant concentration. The oak is well managed and integrated with the tannins firm and chalky providing the structure to support extended ageing. A worthy commemoration of family matriarch Diana Cullen who would have been 100 this year.’

Author:Ken Gargett

Publication:Wine Pilot

Date:8th February, 2023

Score:98/100

'Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – The newly released DM Cabernet is a particularly auspicious one, celebrating what would have been the 100th birthday of Diana Madeline herself. No doubt, she would have been delighted with the wine. In fact, it is very hard to remember when this 'Cabernet would not have been amongst the very best released in this country. This latest release is likely to be seen as one of the finest they have ever made. This is not just a great Margaret River wine, it is a great wine. Deep opaque purple hue. The nose is a whirling dervish of spices, cherries, tobacco leaves, cassis, black fruits, leather and dried herbs. Hints of cloves and blackberries. The structure is immaculate. The wine is focused, with the intensity maintained the full length to a very long finish. Silky tannins. Certainly young now, and although it really is enjoyable, expect this wine to give great pleasure over the next two decades. It is going to get even better. This will surely be one of the top wines of the year, even at this early stage.'  

2021 vintage marks the 50th year of plantings for cabernet sauvignon at the Cullen Wilyabrup vineyard. Serendipity allows it also to be Diana Madeline’s 100th year, beginning on 11th February 2023. It’s incredible to imagine the times of planting in 1971, with no real knowledge of how things would turn out, just faith and great vision to feed the early pioneers of the region, we are talking and tasting the 50th vintage and the region is going from strength to strength on the national and international stage.

This wine is the culmination of over 50 years of dedication effort and respect for the land. The quest for better quality wine made using sustainable methods.

The grapes for this wine were hand harvested on the biodynamic fruit and flower days across 5 picks from the middle of March to the super Moon Flower day two weeks later (including a Moon opposite Saturn fruit day harvest). It was then aged in 50% new oak for a period of 15 months with barriques and puncheons and biodynamic barrels included.

Vintage Notes

The 2021 vintage was defined by Covid and staffrestrictions for hand harvesting. The low yields ensured that the crop was harvested at optimal condition and ripeness. Bird pressure was high and rain events during the growing seasons and also throughout harvest provided challenges.

In spite of these adverse conditions, in Wilyabrup, we finished harvest in good time and are very happy with the wines. Standout varieties; Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tasting Notes
  • Colour Deep garnett mulberry, purple meniscus.
  • Cellar Now or cellar up to 50 years.
  • Bouquet Cherries, ironstone, dark chocolate, cedar, rose, plum; the aromas singing with sweet power on this flower day of tasting, lifting out of the glass and filling the room.
  • Food Margaret River wagu beef, Akardy lamb.
  • Palate A truely profound wine with great depth, length, and concentration. The fine tannins wrap around the front palate and the flavours of plum, salty plum, dark chocolate, cherry, cedar, rose and sandalwood flow energetically,.. leaving a long, juicy unctuous finish. The complexity reflects the vines; 50 years since planting.
Reviews

Author:Ray Jordan

Publication:Wine Pilot

Score:98 points

‘This is a triumph for the vineyard in what was a challenging year in Margaret River. Low yields, birds and rain events all conspired to make things tough but a rigorous biodynamic approach in the vineyard and later in the winery has resulted in a magnificent expression of a slightly cooler climate Margaret River cabernet. High end florals on the nose with notes of violet and red berry overpaying the deeper blackcurrant concentration. The oak is well managed and integrated with the tannins firm and chalky providing the structure to support extended ageing. A worthy commemoration of family matriarch Diana Cullen who would have been 100 this year.’

Author:Ken Gargett

Publication:Wine Pilot

Date:8th February, 2023

Score:98/100

'Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – The newly released DM Cabernet is a particularly auspicious one, celebrating what would have been the 100th birthday of Diana Madeline herself. No doubt, she would have been delighted with the wine. In fact, it is very hard to remember when this 'Cabernet would not have been amongst the very best released in this country. This latest release is likely to be seen as one of the finest they have ever made. This is not just a great Margaret River wine, it is a great wine. Deep opaque purple hue. The nose is a whirling dervish of spices, cherries, tobacco leaves, cassis, black fruits, leather and dried herbs. Hints of cloves and blackberries. The structure is immaculate. The wine is focused, with the intensity maintained the full length to a very long finish. Silky tannins. Certainly young now, and although it really is enjoyable, expect this wine to give great pleasure over the next two decades. It is going to get even better. This will surely be one of the top wines of the year, even at this early stage.'  

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