“Red Moon” Mangan Vineyard Wilyabrup 2023 – Cullen

The grapes for this “Red Moon” Mangan Vineyard Wilyabrup Cullen were hand harvested, destemmed and vinified with the emphasis on accentuating the fruit character of the grapes. Only indigenous yeasts were used. 57% of the wine was aged for five months in seasoned French oak barriques, with the balance in stainless steel. It received no additives except the requisite sulphur and was not fined.

This wine takes its name from the ‘Red Moon’ which occurs during a total lunar eclipse when the light filtering through the Earth’s atmosphere dapples the moon in red light. The grapes are grown on a single vineyard in the Wilyabrup sub-region, located 20 kilometres north of the Margaret River township. The soils are old, granite and gravely sandy loam, overlaying lateritic subsoils. Malbec and Petit Verdot are varieties that are particularly well suited to growing in this area. In ‘Red Moon’, the Malbec provides the fruit power and colour, while the Petit Verdot the length and texture.

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.