Cullen Mangan Vineyard Red Moon 2024: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Peppercorn & Violet Lift

Red Moon is a beautiful clash of light and shadow: juicy raspberry and mulberry fruit, then savoury satsuma-plum depth, ironstone minerality and a lift of rose and violet. It’s a wine with real concentration, yet it stays fresh and agile thanks to bright acidity and a slinky, slightly chewy tannin line. Think purity of fruit, floral perfume, and a long, mineral finish that feels both modern and unmistakably Margaret River.

Highlights

• 95 points for the 2024 vintage (Erin Larkin)
• Certified biodynamic, certified organic and vegan suitable
• No additions and no fining at bottling; indigenous yeast ferment
• Blend: 33% Malbec, 23% Grenache, 22% Mourvèdre, 17% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot
• 8 months in old oak for shape, not flavour

Taste Profile

Tasting Notes

Colour is an attractive purple with mulberry tones and a bright magenta rim. The bouquet opens with juicy raspberry, tobacco and a gentle vanilla note, then settles into savoury satsuma plum and dried-fruit depth. The palate is concentrated yet bright: pomegranate and mulberry, blood-plum and cherry, with peppercorn lift, rose and violet perfume, and a mineral ironstone edge through the finish. Tannins are well orchestrated – slightly chewy, but cleansing – giving length, shape and real drinkability.

Winemaking

Fruit is hand harvested, destemmed and fermented with indigenous yeasts, with no additions and no fining at bottling. The blend is built around Malbec, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Petit Verdot with a touch of Merlot, then matured for around eight months in old oak to allow the wine to settle without overlaying flavour. The aim is purity and expression: fruit detail, floral lift and structure in harmony.

Vineyard & Vintage

Red Moon is drawn from Cullen’s biodynamically farmed vineyards in Wilyabrup, with the 2024 release listed as 67% Metricup and 33% Cullen Vineyard. Harvest fell in mid to late February, picked across fruit and flower days, and the season itself was the hottest, driest and earliest on record according to the producer. With little rain through the growing season and quick picking, the wines show concentration and depth; in Red Moon, that richness is held in check by acidity and a mineral, ironstone-like finish.

Why We Love It

Because it’s powerful without being ponderous. The fruit is vivid and layered, the perfume is unmistakable, and the structure is the kind that makes you want food on the table. It also offers a rare combination of minimal-intervention purity and serious finesse.

Food Pairing

This is a vibrant, structured red that loves char, spice and slow-cooked richness. Try matching this wine with →

• Lamb cutlets or lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic – Recipe Search
• Indian-style beef stew (nihari) or any slow-cooked curry – Recipe Search
• Roasted vegetables with tahini, pomegranate and herbs – Recipe Search

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A Dinner-Party “Nailed It” Red when you want something floral, inky and quietly impressive alongside a beautiful table spread.

Cellaring

Immensely drinkable now, but it also has the structure to cellar confidently for 10–15 years under screwcap. In its youth, it’s all purple fruit, rose and mineral energy; with time, expect more savoury depth, softer edges and a more complex spice-and-earth profile. If you love that bright pomegranate crunch, drink sooner; if you like layered, tertiary notes, tuck a few away.

Producer

Cullen Wines is a Margaret River icon based in Wilyabrup, family-owned since the early 1970s and led by Vanya Cullen, one of Australia’s most influential biodynamic producers. Their vineyards are certified organic and biodynamic, with a long-standing focus on soil health, biodiversity and a carbon-conscious approach to farming and energy use. Red Moon is a modern Cullen expression built from the estate vineyards (including Metricup and the home Cullen Vineyard), fermented with indigenous yeasts and bottled without fining or additions. The result is a wine that balances purity and intensity, with the estate’s signature floral lift and ironstone-mineral line.

Related Wines To Try →

If you love Red Moon’s perfumed structure and Margaret River drive, try these next:

• Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2024
• Cullen Diana Madeline 2020
• Shop all Red Blends

FAQ

What does Red Moon taste like?

Think juicy raspberry and mulberry, savoury satsuma plum, and a lift of rose and violet. There’s also a mineral, ironstone-like edge and a gentle tobacco-and-vanilla note in the background. The finish is long, bright and structured, with a slightly chewy, cleansing tannin line.

Is it sweet or dry?

It’s a dry red. The fruit is ripe and generous, but the palate stays savoury thanks to firm structure and bright acidity. If you enjoy reds that finish clean rather than jammy, you’ll love this direction.

How full-bodied is it, and what are the tannins like?

Medium to medium-full in body, with concentration that comes from a warm, dry vintage rather than heavy oak. Tannins are present and well-shaped – more “slinky and slightly chewy” than grippy. Acidity is high enough to keep everything lively and food-friendly.

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

Serve at around 16–18°C, especially if the room is warm. A medium-to-large red wine glass (Burgundy or universal style) will highlight the floral perfume and soften the structure. If it’s been sitting in a hot kitchen, a quick 10 minutes in the fridge can help it sing.

Should I decant this wine?

It’s delicious straight from the bottle, but a short decant can make a difference. Give it 20–30 minutes of air if you want more violet perfume and a silkier tannin feel. For older bottles later on, decant more gently to separate any sediment.

How long can I cellar it?

The producer notes it will age well under screwcap for at least 15 years. Over time, the bright purple fruit will shift toward savoury plum, dried herb and spice, with a more earthy, tertiary complexity. Store cool and stable, and it will reward patience.

Is it organic, biodynamic and vegan?

Yes – the product specs list it as certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable. That means you can pour with confidence for plant-based friends, and for anyone who prefers wines made with a strong farming philosophy. It’s very much in the Cullen wheelhouse: purity, place and integrity.

What about preservatives (sulphites)?

Like virtually all wine, it will contain sulphites. The key point here is the minimal-intervention approach and the certified organic and biodynamic status listed in the product specs. In the glass, it comes across clean, vivid and precise.

What food works best?

This wine loves lamb, slow-cooked beef, and dishes with spice, smoke or char. It’s also brilliant with roasted vegetables when you add herbs, tahini or pomegranate for richness and lift. The floral notes and acidity make it surprisingly versatile at the table.

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

If you like perfumed, structured reds with freshness and minerality, Red Moon will be your kind of bottle. It’s a great bridge between plush Malbec fruit and the savoury, violet-tinged edge you can get from Petit Verdot and Mourvèdre. If you enjoy the Margaret River Cullen signature but want something more classically Cabernet-led, try Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2024.

(SKU: CW_REM_CV)