Cullen:
The Solstice Sun Legacy Series Launch
Two of Australia’s great wines, reinterpreted through Cullen’s biodynamic philosophy.
What happens when one of Australia’s most respected wineries takes its two greatest wines in a different direction? Cullen’s new Solstice Sun Legacy releases offer a fascinating opportunity to find out.
The new Legacy releases
2025 Kevin John ‘Solstice Sun’ Chardonnay
98 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
2025 Diana Madeline ‘Solstice Sun’ Cabernet
99 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
Taste them alongside the established Kevin John and Diana Madeline releases, and the 2023 Diana Madeline Legacy Series ‘Full Moon’ Cabernet, another expression of Cullen’s biodynamic philosophy.
12 Cullen wines across four brackets
Cullen:
The Solstice Sun Legacy Series Launch
Sunday, November 1st
Hosted by Vanya Cullen & JJ (John Jens)
Lunch: 12–3pm | 12 wines and 4 courses | $195
Masterclass: 4–6pm | 12 wines & canapés | $95
-
One of the first wineries to be established in the famous Wilyabrup wine growing region of Margaret River, Western Australia. In 1971, Dr Kevin Cullen and his wife Diana planted and nurtured what has become one of Australia’s finest and most well-respected wineries.
Cullen Wines has remained a family business, and the care and respect that Kevin and Di showed for the land and their passion for producing quality wines is a legacy that continues today. In 1998, the winery was successfully converted to organic practices, and in 2004 to biodynamic. Since taking the reins several years ago, Vanya Cullen’s passion and hard work has paved the way for the business to become a fully certified A Grade biodynamic winery and the first winery in Australia to be certified 100% carbon neutral.
Cullen Wines’ flagships, the Diana Madeline Cabernet blend and the Kevin John Chardonnay, are consistently rated nationally and internationally as the best in their respective fields. Cullen’s natural and biodynamic wines bring the purest expression of place and land on which they are grown.
A pioneer of Margaret River, Cullen Wines has always produced long-lived wines of highly individual style. The vineyard has progressed beyond organic to biodynamic certification and, subsequently, has become the first vineyard and winery in Australia to be certified carbon positive. Winemaking is in the hands of Vanya Cullen, daughter of founders Kevin and Diana Cullen; she is possessed of an extraordinarily good palate and generosity to the cause of fine wine. Vanya was awarded the Companion's inaugural Viticulturist of the Year in '22, Cullen's 50th anniversary year.
James Halliday, Wine Companion -
Vanya Cullen is one of Australia’s most awarded and respected winemakers. Her lifelong commitment to biodynamics, sustainability and uncompromising quality has earned her national and international recognition.
Major Honours
Order of Australia (OAM), 2023
Awarded for outstanding service to oenology and viticulture, a national honour recognising her leadership and contribution to Australian wine.Jack Mann Memorial Medal, 2024
Western Australia’s highest wine industry accolade, recognising exceptional and lasting service to the state’s wine community.
Industry Awards
James Halliday Wine Companion
• Winemaker of the Year, 2020
• Viticulturist of the Year, 2022
A rare dual recognition highlighting both her vineyard innovation and winemaking excellence.Gourmet Traveller WINE – Winemaker of the Year, 2000
One of the earliest national acknowledgements of Vanya’s visionary influence.Australian Women in Wine Awards – Winemaker of the Year, 2019
Celebrating trailblazing women shaping the industry.
Additional Achievements
Inducted into the Australian Business Women’s Hall of Fame, 2015
Recognised for entrepreneurial leadership and influence beyond the wine sector.Named Woman of the Year & Green Personality of the Year
Awarded by The Drinks Business (UK) for her sustainability leadership and global impact.Margaret River Wine Association – Lifetime Achievement Award, 2025
Honouring her decades of contribution to the region’s international reputation.Finalist – The Real Review “Vigneron of the Year Australia”, 2025
Acknowledging her pioneering approach to biodynamic viticulture.
-
Cullen Awards and Accolades
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate’s
4 of their highest 9 pointed Australian Chardonnays ever at the time.James Halliday’s Cabernet Sauvignons of the Year 2012 and 2015.
Huon Hooke’s Real Review Chardonnay of the Year 2021.
Nick Stock’s equal highest pointed (99 points) Margaret River wine in his 2021 tasting of 500 Margaret River wines.
Robert Parker’s highest rated Australian Cabernet in 2019.
Vanya Cullen
The Real Review’s Top Wineries 2025 Awards: Vigneron of the Year, Top 3 Finalist
The James Halliday Wine Companion’s Winemaker of the Year 2020 and Viticulturist of the Year 2022.
Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine’s Winemaker of the Year 2000.
Australian Women in Wine Awards Winemaker of the Year 2019.
The Solstice Sun Legacy Series
Kevin John Chardonnay and Diana Madeline Cabernet are the two wines Cullen is best known for. The Legacy Series is where Vanya Cullen takes small parcels from the estate in a different direction, letting the biodynamic calendar and the vessel shape the wine as much as the vineyard does.
The two new Solstice Sun releases apply that thinking to both labels. The 2025 Kevin John Solstice Sun Chardonnay was picked on a flower day and new moon in February, spent two days in a clay amphora lined with beeswax before pressing, and finished its fermentation in a biodynamic flower day puncheon. The 2025 Diana Madeline Solstice Sun Cabernet was crushed to clay amphora and left on skins for 13 days, then pressed to biodynamic barrels for four months, with no additions.
Poured beside the established 2024 Kevin John and 2022 Diana Madeline, and the 2023 Diana Madeline Legacy Series ‘Full Moon’ Cabernet, the line-up lets you taste the same estate and the same famous names taken somewhere new. Vanya Cullen hosts with JJ (John Jens).
2025 Cullen Kevin John Legacy Series ‘Solstice Sun’ Chardonnay
98 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
This Legacy Series has produced some quite wonderful wines, and this is yet another stunning example. In line with the biodynamic principles of Cullen, it was picked on a flower day and new moon in February. The bunches went into a clay amphora lined with beeswax for two days before pressing, and then it was transferred to a biodynamic flower day puncheon to complete the fermentation. So what does this mean? Well, it means it’s a damn fine wine. Plenty of savoury, mineral-y, slightly honeycomb, lemon curd aromas. And then a palate that is so rich and textured, yet held with deft control, with a fine, precise acidity. The palate extends with effortless ease to such a sustained, long finish. Each time you dig back into it, you’ll find something different. It’s such a wonderful wine.
2025 Cullen Diana Madeline Legacy Series ‘Solstice Sun’ Cabernet
99 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
A supreme and stunning wine under this Legacy Series from Cullen. After crushing to clay amphora, the fruit was left on skins for 13 days before pressing to biodynamic barrels for four months. There were no additions, so this is a pure and expressive example of vineyard and region. Exquisite perfume combinations of violets and red fruits. And then a palate which is seamlessly and precisely integrated. Tannins provide an energy and vibrancy supporting the fruit. This is elegance personified, but with the typical Cullen structural powerhouse driving it.
The Wine List
First Bracket
2024 Cullen Dancing in the Sun Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
92 Points, Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
As with all Cullens, we see the use of biodynamics in action, although we are told this is the ‘fun and joyful’ side. Who knew biodynamics had a fun and joyful style? This wine is part of quite an extensive array of Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blends offered by Cullens, this one with a dribble of Chenin Blanc and friends – 53% Sauvignon Blanc, 28% Semillon, 14% Chenin, 4% Chardonnay and 1% Verdelho. It hails from a trio of their vineyards. A pale lemon hue, this has quite an intense nose with herbals to the fore, along with florals, soursop, citrus and touches of lemon curd. Pleasingly powerful aromas. This is balanced and seamless, with the palate beautifully constructed, and a lingering, clean finish. This will excite even more in a year or two and then drink well for the following four years. These Savvy Sem wines from Cullens are anything but your simple, slurpable Savvys blends, and all the better for that. (Drink between 2025-2029)
2025 Cullen Mangan ‘Elvie Clarke’ Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Winery Tasting Note
This wine honours Kevin John Cullen’s mother, Elvie Alice Clarke, daughter of Ephraim and Louisa Clarke. A gifted pianist and enchanting storyteller, Elvie’s musical career was cut short by the first world war. The wine is a blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon and 5% Verdelho from the Mangan Vineyard. Hand-harvested on Biodynamic Fruit and Flower Days, the wine was naturally fermented without acid additions allowing the land’s voice to sing loudly in the glass.
2025 Cullen Grace Madeline Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
96 Points, Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot
This is a blend of roughly three-quarters Sauvignon Blanc and the remainder Semillon. The Sauvignon Blanc was wild fermented, with about 58% new oak barriques, while the Semillon was kept in stainless steel for its fermentation. It was wild fermented with no additions of yeast or acid. And the Sauvignon Blanc spent an extra six months in new oak barriques before it was ready for bottling. There’s an incredible purity of the fruit here and a driving intensity symptomatic of both vineyard and vintage. The palate weaves its magic with terrifically intense, lemony fruit, balanced with some fine acid and clever use of oak. There’s a crunchy, vibrant, citrusy, melon finish. Excellent wine.
Second Bracket
2025 Cullen Metricup Chardonnay
Winery Tasting Note
This Chardonnay is from the Metricup area, and comes with authentic sustainable credentials from a certified organic vineyard in conversion to biodynamic. Planted in 1998 the vineyard is located on the border of Wilyabrup. The wine has been made in the Chablis style using little oak and cool fermentations in stainless steel to retain the fruit. It is completely different in concept to the Kevin John’s in place and style but made without additions of yeast acidity and anything else. 2025 produced exceptional white wines with opulence, structure and ripe fruit characters. Hand-harvested over two days a Flower Day on February 18th and a Fruit Day on February 23. The wine has been predominately tank fermented with a small portion in French oak for texture. Natural yeast and no additions of acidity.
2024 Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay
98 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
It was a hot, dry and early vintage. The earliest on record. But the impact on the wine is immediate and profound. A wine of tremendous power and concentration is evident from the initial engagement on the nose through to a deep and almost endless palate, as it drives forward with tremendous urgency. Notes of brioche and grain-like cereal with a slightly honeycomb factor, with other notes of minerals and slight savoriness. The palate is deeply concentrated with layers of flavour emerging. Captures much of the Kevin John DNA.
97 Points, Cassandra Charlick, Decanter
For a year that was faster, hotter and drier than any other year in Margaret River’s history, there is certainly no need to worry about the effect on the elegance expected from a bottle of Kevin John. Vibrant and chirpy citrus tones open on the nose – lemon pith, lime zest, pear skin, grapefruit pith, spring blossoms and a little dried ginger and dried herbs. The fruit sings through the fragrant oak (50% new, six months) like a bell, loud and clear. There’s joyful dance party energy on the palate, with crystalline fruit tickling all corners of the mouth and sunlit acidity, fine yet bright. Layers of flavour, a concentration of fruit that pools from the mid-palate. A balance of power and purity, with a graceful honesty that charms and a wine that speaks of place with a salt-kissed memory.
2025 Cullen Kevin John Legacy Series ‘Solstice Sun’ Chardonnay
98 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
This Legacy Series has produced some quite wonderful wines, and this is yet another stunning example. In line with the biodynamic principles of Cullen, it was picked on a flower day and new moon in February. The bunches went into a clay amphora lined with beeswax for two days before pressing, and then it was transferred to a biodynamic flower day puncheon to complete the fermentation. So what does this mean? Well, it means it’s a damn fine wine. Plenty of savoury, mineral-y, slightly honeycomb, lemon curd aromas. And then a palate that is so rich and textured, yet held with deft control, with a fine, precise acidity. The palate extends with effortless ease to such a sustained, long finish. Each time you dig back into it, you’ll find something different. It’s such a wonderful wine.
Third Bracket
2024 Cullen Red Moon
93 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
This is a blend of malbec, grenache, mourvèdre, petit verdot and merlot. The ferment took place naturally with no additions before 8 months in older oak. So the oak influence is minimal, but it still plays a role in developing the textural feel and concentration of the palate. The colour and the fruit are quite brilliant, with a palate showing plenty of chalky tannins for support. It’s a mighty good wine for this price when you’re looking for a value-for-money drink.
93 Points, Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion
A blend of 33/23/22/17/5% malbec/grenache/mourvèdre/petit verdot/merlot. Fruit still comes off the Mangan vineyard, augmented by 33% off the Cullen property.
2024 Cullen Mangan Vineyard Malbec (Preservative Free)
93 Points, Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot
Fermented naturally, there is no added preservatives, yeasts, tannins or acid. From the Mangan vineyard, this is barrel-fresh! A deep, vibrant magenta, the nose exhibits notes of chocolate, soy, graphite, blackberries, plums and violets. A juicy style with bright acidity, fine tannins, balance and decent length, which lingers. Delicious and ideal with your best snags. For drinking over the next two to three years. Love it.
2023 Cullen Ephraim Malbec/Petit Verdot
94 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
The deepest, darkest colour you could ever imagine sits in the glass of this 70/30 blend of malbec and petit verdot from Cullen’s Mangan vineyard. It’s named after Kevin Cullen’s grandfather Ephraim, who like Cullen was a wine pioneer, albeit in the previous century. All naturally fermented and basket pressed before maturation in oak of which 35% was new for 8 months. It’s a powerful statement with rich dark chocolate and black fruit flavours supported by firm chalky tannins and a liberal hit of oak. It’s a sort of big easy wine.
Fourth Bracket
2025 Cullen Diana Madeline Legacy Series ‘Solstice Sun’ Cabernet
99 Points, Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com.au
A supreme and stunning wine under this Legacy Series from Cullen. After crushing to clay amphora, the fruit was left on skins for 13 days before pressing to biodynamic barrels for four months. There were no additions, so this is a pure and expressive example of vineyard and region. Exquisite perfume combinations of violets and red fruits. And then a palate which is seamlessly and precisely integrated. Tannins provide an energy and vibrancy supporting the fruit. This is elegance personified, but with the typical Cullen structural powerhouse driving it.
2023 Cullen Diana Madeline Legacy Series ‘Full Moon’ Cabernet
99 Points, Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
Not many wineries can claim to have three flagship reds, but for Cullens, not a problem. As well as the standard Diana Madeline, not that there is anything standard about it, we have this wine and then the Vanya. All three were produced in the wonderful 2023 vintage. Obviously, the Diana Madeline is the value play, but the three wines are all different and all spectacular. They each have so much to offer that I couldn’t split them and gave them each 99. The blend here is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Malbec. The grapes were harvested under a full moon on 7th March, Moon Opposite Saturn Harvest, hence the MOSH. Maturation was for fifteen months in barriques, one-third of them new. Black purple in colour, the nose weaves its way through aromas of spices, mulberries, florals, blackberries, bruised plums, leather, dried herbs, charcuterie and spices. Seductively textured, there is wonderful length here and the wine is immaculately balanced throughout. It finishes with the finest of silky tannins. A stunning Cabernet which will drink beautifully for the next quarter of a century.
2022 Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet
99 Points, Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
Deep colour. Ethereal cassis, light marzipan, vanilla with hints of violet. Fresh blackcurrant pastille, marzipan, cedar flavour and fine bittersweet/ grainy tannins. Finishes claret firm, with pure dark berry fruits and superb mineral length. Elegantly proportioned, pristine and sinuous with excellent cellaring potential. A genuine Australian First Growth highlighting the genius of vineyard site, meticulous harvesting (five separate picking times), empathetic and imaginative winemaking. 89% cabernet sauvignon, 5% merlot, 3% cabernet franc, 3% malbec, 14 months maturation in new (55%) and seasoned French oak. A classic vintage; up there with the best. Keep for a while to allow some bottle age development as you will be greatly rewarded.
97 Points, Cassandra Charlick, Decanter
Rather closed initially but opens nicely with a little encouragement to an elegant nose of wild berry, cassis, salted red plum, light nori, rock salt, and fresh rose petal, hay, dusty red earth. Fine graphite note, great fruit concentration, very tight dusty, yet firm tannins. Dry roast savoury spice, star anise, rosella and rose hip succulence. Tight-knit fruit quality with velvety effect across the palate. Such a core of energy - expansive and compounding rather than bright and preppy. Crushed graphite finish with an exceptionally long line of fruit. This has a long life ahead of it. Certified organic and biodynamic, 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 30 days on skins, 50% new oak barriques. (Drink between 2025-2045)