Cullen Dancing In The Moonlight Rose: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Gastronomic, Vibrant Rosé

Deep pink in the glass, this is rosé with real depth: ripe wild berries and vibrant raspberry, creamy strawberry notes, and a fragrant lift of rose petal. The palate is dry and refreshing, running rosehip and cherry into pink apple and pear, finishing long with gentle, attractive phenolics. It’s lively and bright, but also layered – the sort of rosé that works just as well with dinner as it does as an aperitif.

Highlights

• 94 points – Nick Ryan, The Australian
• WinePilot: 93 points (Ken Gargett)
• Featured in Nick Ryan’s 100 Best Australian Wines of 2025
• Certified biodynamic, certified organic and vegan suitable
• Made using the saignèe method; wild ferment with no further additions
• Fermented in a mix of stainless steel, barrels and ceramic egg for texture; no oak maturation
• Dry (residual sugar ≈ 2 g/L) and 13.8% ABV

Taste Profile

Tasting Notes

Colour is intense deep pink with creamy tinges. Aromas lead with ripe wild berries and vibrant raspberry, moving into creamy strawberry, rose petals and a subtle grapefruit-like citrus lift. The palate is fresh and vibrant: rosehip and cherry up front, then a juicy run of pink apple and pear through the middle. The finish is elegant, complex and long, with a lightly grippy phenolic edge that keeps it savoury, clean and moreish.

Winemaking

This rosé is created using the saignèe method from the estate’s red grape varieties, then brought together as a multi-varietal blend with a small inclusion of white grapes. Grapes are biodynamically grown and hand harvested, fermented with natural yeast and no further additions. Portions are fermented across stainless steel, barrel and ceramic egg to build texture and complexity, while the wine itself is kept free of oak influence.

Vineyard & Vintage

Fruit is drawn from Cullen and Mangan Vineyards in Wilyabrup, Margaret River, with harvest running across fruit and flower days through January and February 2024. The 2024 season was the hottest, driest and earliest on record for the estate, with rainfall effectively switching off from late September 2023 until the break in May 2024. The result is concentration and fruit weight, but in this rosé the richness is held beautifully in check by bright acidity and a clean, phenolic finish.

Why We Love It

It’s not a pale, simple porch rosé. This has colour, flavour and that extra dimension of texture that makes it a genuine dining wine. It’s also a brilliant way to taste Cullen’s biodynamic precision in a lighter, joyful register.

Food Pairing

Dry, structured rosé with berry fruit and gentle grip is a dream with spice, herbs and anything roasted or charred. Try matching this wine with →

• Palak paneer (or saag paneer) – Recipe Search
• Roast vegetables with tahini and lemon – Recipe Search
• Stone-fruit dessert (think peach custard slice or kuchen) – Recipe Search

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A Spicy-Food Specialist for balmy nights and long chats: vibrant pink, chilled, and perfectly at ease beside bold flavours.

Cellaring

Beautiful now for its bright fruit and perfume, and it can cellar well too. The producer suggests enjoying it now or for up to 10 years, which speaks to its structure and quality of fruit. If you’re cellaring, expect more savoury complexity to develop as the berry notes soften and the texture becomes even more integrated.

Producer

Cullen Wines is one of Margaret River’s great estates, based in Wilyabrup and family-owned since the early 1970s. Under Vanya Cullen, the vineyards became certified organic and biodynamic, with a philosophy centred on soil health, biodiversity and letting the vineyard lead the wine. The property is also widely recognised for its carbon-conscious approach, combining regenerative farming with a strong sustainability focus. Dancing in the Moonlight is Cullen’s rosé expression of that ethos: estate-grown fruit, wild fermentation, and thoughtful vessel choices (including ceramic egg) to build texture without leaning on oak.

Related Wines To Try →

If you love this dry, textural rosé, here are a few smart next pours:

• Cowpunk Natural Pet Nat 2023
• Cullen Dancing in the Sun White 2024
• Shop all Rosé

FAQ

What does this rosé taste like?

Expect ripe wild berries and vibrant raspberry, creamy strawberry, and a fragrant lift of rose petal. On the palate it’s rosehip and cherry, then pink apple and pear, finishing long with a gentle, savoury phenolic grip. It’s dry, refreshing and quietly complex.

Is it sweet or dry?

It’s dry. The residual sugar is listed at around 2 g/L, so it drinks crisp and clean rather than sweet. The fruit feels generous because the vintage delivered flavour concentration, not because the wine has sugar.

How light is it, and does it have tannin?

Body sits in the light-to-medium range, with plenty of flavour but no heaviness. There’s a small amount of tannin-like grip from the saignèe method and phenolics, which is why it works so well with food. Acidity is bright, keeping the finish fresh and lifted.

What temperature should I serve it at, and what glass should I use?

Serve it chilled at about 8–10°C. A standard white wine glass is perfect, but a slightly larger bowl will show more perfume and texture. If it warms a little in the glass, you’ll notice more spice and savoury detail.

Do I need to decant it?

No decant needed. If you want to open up the aromatics quickly, a splash pour and five minutes in the glass is plenty. This style is all about freshness and brightness, so keep it cool and enjoy.

How long will it keep?

It’s wonderful right now, but it’s also built with real structure. The producer suggests drinking now or cellaring for up to 10 years, which is unusual (and impressive) for rosé. If you cellar, expect the fruit to move from bright berry toward more savoury, earthy complexity.

Is it organic, biodynamic and vegan?

Yes – the product specs list it as certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable. It’s a great choice when you want a rosé with clear farming credentials and a serious producer behind it. The style is naturally food-friendly, not sugary or confected.

Does it contain preservatives (sulphites)?

Like virtually all wine, it will contain sulphites. The key here is the certified organic and biodynamic status in the product specs, and the minimal-intervention approach in the winery. In the glass it tastes clean, vibrant and precise.

What food matches best?

Try it with palak paneer, roast vegetables, Middle Eastern salads, grilled prawns, or anything with herbs and spice. The berry fruit loves chilli heat, while the savoury grip handles char and roasted flavours. It also works surprisingly well with stone-fruit desserts.

Who will love it, and what’s a good comparison?

This is for anyone who likes their rosé dry, vibrant and layered – not just a pale summer sipper. If you enjoy serious Provençal-style rosé with structure, or modern Australian rosé with a bit of grip, it’s right in that lane. If you’d like something with bubbles and the same natural energy, try Cowpunk Natural Pet Nat 2023.

(SKU: CW_ROS_CV)