The 2019 Diana Madeline was born of a low yielding (cabernet sauvignon 4.75 tonnes per hectare, merlot 2.13 tonnes per hectare, cabernet franc 4.01 tonnes per hectare, Malbec 3.43 tonnes per hectare) warm vintage.
The vines were planted in 1971 on ancient gravelly granite soils, producing a wine of great quality, elegance, perfume and balance.
Predominately Fruit days with one harvest occurring on a Full Moon perigee with a supporting fruit trine.
Skin contact time ranged from 10-29 days before being gently basket pressed to barrel. It has spent an average of 15 months in oak, with 45% new oak, in a mixture of biodynamic barriques and puncheons.
The varietal blend is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. The wine will age for up to 50 years.
Incredible power and concentration here, and yet, still lithe and so finely wrought. It’s ultra-mineral in feel with iron and dense graphite tannin, but perfumed and spice-laden too. The quality and feel of tannin here is something quite extraordinary. Plum and dark cherry, dark tobacco, whiff of empty chocolate box, superb length of flavour. Essence of Cabernet. Essential Cabernet. We’ve never had it so good.