2014 Cullen Diana Madeline

An Australian Icon that is in the top echelon of wine produced in this country. The makeup of the 2014 release is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 % Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 2 % Malbec and 2 % Cabernet Franc. There is some pretty adept winemaking that goes into this apart from the careful selection of the blend, the wine has a mixture of whole berry and macerated fruit that is fermented in stainless steel, with close to a month on skins prior to being matured in French oak for 18 months (69% new).

A glossy deep red in the glass, the nose has concentration of black fruits with finely filmented french oak and subtle cigar box evident but more a background complexity at this point in the wines development.

This is a wine that touches almost every corner of the flavour spectrum that ranges from drying old leather to floral spice and precise, juicy black fruits. The tannin and acid structure is impeccable and affords the wine length and mouthfeel that isn't given to many other wines.

Cullen continues to be a winery that can do no wrong.