Cullen, Red Moon Mangan Vineyard Wilyabrup Margaret River 2018

95 points James Halliday
"“61% malbec, 39% petit verdot. An arresting colour in the glass, bright deep crimson right to the edge. The bouquet is like a melange of wild vine and forest berries with raspberry, mulberry and redcurrant amongst them, a trace of perfume drifting in the background. Juicy and exuberant in the mouth, the red fruit flavours and youthfully grippy tannin vying for attention.”

91 points Vinous
“Dark ruby. Ripe cherry and blackberry aromas show very good clarity and take on an enlivening suggestion of cracked pepper with air. Plush and seamless on the palate, offering juicy black and blue fruit, candied lavender and spicecake flavors and a hint of smokiness. Finishes broad and fleshy, with repeating spiciness, welljudged tannins and strong persistence.”

91 points Decanter
“First violet and white pepper-edged blackberry, then sappier apple notes, and finally on opening up, sweeter blueberry fruit. Malbec accounts for the deep hue and this wine’s signature juicy vitality. Petit Verdot’s small berries add light grip to otherwise discreet, gravelly tannins. Only 57% of the wine is aged in seasoned French oak, accentuating the fruit purity.”

Jancis Robinson
"61% Malbec, 39% Petit Verdot. 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 from Mangan vineyard in the Wilyabrup subregion, 20 kilometres north of the Margaret River township. The soils are old, granite and gravelly sandy loam, overlaying lateritic subsoils. Malbec and Petit Verdot are varieties that are particularly well suited to growing in this area. Malbec is planted on deep loam, is vigorous and produces big berries. Petit Verdot has tiny berries and is more concentrated, so a good match. 'In Red Moon, the Malbec provides the fruit power and colour, while the Petit Verdot the length and texture.' Good vintage conditions, especially at flowering, resulted in healthy, balanced yields across all varieties at Cullen. 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 matured for five months in seasoned French oak barriques, with the balance in stainless steel. It received no additives except the requisite sulphites and was not fined. Screwcap. TA 5.9 g/l, pH 3.58. Carbon neutral, certified biodynamic, certified organic, sustainable, vegetarian, vegan.
Deep cherry red. Alluring aroma of red cherry, violets and floral and mulberry notes. Highly aromatic and inviting. Smooth, rounded tannins, gently chewy without being astringent, caressing. Light peppery spice. Also has that mulberry-like combination of ripe dark fruits and high acidity. Juicy and concentrated. Wild-sour expressive personality allied to plush gentle texture. Likely to age well but pretty irresistible now. GV 17/20 points. (JH)"