“Diana Madeline” Wilyabrup 2021 – Cullen

The grapes to produce the “Diana Madeline” Wilyabrup Cullen were hand picked and carefully sorted. Each variety was fermented separately with indigenous yeasts. Fermentation time ranged from 10 – 29 days, before the wine was gently basket-pressed to barrel. It matured for 15 months in French oak, of which 45% was new, in a mixture of biodynamic barriques and puncheons.

Located in Wilyabrup, 20 kilometres north of Margaret River township, the soils at the Cullen vineyard are old granite and gravelly, sandy loam, overlaying lateric subsoils. Planted in 1971, the Cabernet Sauvignon comprises 11.33 hectares, while the Merlot was planted in 1976 and covers 1.76 hectares. The conversion to biodynamic viticulture is believed to have produced better fruit, the character of which is preserved during the winemaking process.

Cullen Wines is a certified biodynamic, carbon neutral and naturally powered estate, with their philosophy summed up in three simple words; ‘Quality, Integrity and Sustainability’. It is one of the oldest and most awarded family wineries in Wilyabrup, in Western Australia’s famous Margaret River region. First established in 1971 by Dr Kevin and Diana Cullen and now run by their daughter Vanya, the winery has built an outstanding reputation for fine certified biodynamic wines that receive critical national and international acclaim. In 2019, celebrating 30 years at the helm, Vanya received double Winemaker of the Year honours at both the Australian Women in Wine Awards and the Halliday Wine Companion Awards.