CULLEN Diana Madeline Cabernet Merlot 2024

Robert Parker Score: 95 points

Reviewer: Erin Larkin — January 2026 Week 429 Jan 2026

Drink 2025–2044

The 2024 Diana Madeline leads with punctuated cassis, bay leaf, sweet tobacco, nori, blackberry, dark chocolate and licorice. In the mouth, the wine is laden with graphite tannins and phenolic grip, and yet, as with all of the Diana Madelines, the texture has a finely milled, pulverized, fine quality to it. I judge this wine to be relatively open-weave in relation to its vintage peers at their same time on release, perhaps indicating that this will need less time in the cellar in order to come around for earlier drinking. To be clear, this is no indictment on its ability to age. This is very good, plush yet still herbal. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

According to the technical data supplied by Cullens, 2024 vintage was the hottest, driest and earliest harvest on record. Rainfall turned off like a tap at the end of September 2023, with nominally no rain until the season broke in May 2024. Unseasonable warmth all through the growing season combined with heat waves in January meant harvest started early and was over extremely quickly. The ample marri blossom and dry conditions meant both bird and disease pressure were low. Both whites and reds reflect opulence and power that show great promise for the future. Hand-harvested over six picks, starting in mid-February and culminating on a moon-opposite-Saturn astral event a few weeks later. Following this. it matured for 14 months in 50% new French oak. The final blend comprises 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Malbec and 2% Merlot.