2022 Mangan East Block Margaret River Malbec/Petit Verdot, Cullen

• Style: Medium-bodied, fruit-forward with velvety texture
• Taste: Blackberry, tar, dried plum, saffron and thyme
• Food: Grilled lamb, duck confit, dark chocolate
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night, weeknight drinking
• Serve: 13–16°C, decant 15 mins, enjoy over 2–3 hours
• Vegan: Certified biodynamic and organic

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Pour this 2022 East Block and you're met with lifted aromatics and blackberry intensity that define Margaret River at its best. The nose deepens into tar, dried plum, saffron and thyme as it opens, while a velvety mid-palate carries fresh tannins without heaviness. At 13.9% ABV, this is refined drinking: fruit-forward yet generously textured, bone dry and built for both immediate pleasure and contemplative lingering.

The Winery — Cullen

Established in Wilyabrup in 1971 by Dr Kevin and Diana Cullen, this family winery now thrives under the stewardship of their daughter Vanya, a multiple award-winning winemaker and recipient of the Order of Australia for her services to viticulture. Her unwavering dedication to biodynamic farming has positioned Cullen as one of Australia's most decorated sustainable producers, combining carbon neutrality with minimal intervention. The 2022 vintage captured a rare window of dry warmth and cool nights, concentrating fruit while preserving lifted aromatics. The East Block's Scott Henry trellising and Petit Verdot's gravelly patch both prioritised quality over yield; 28 days of maceration and seven months in 50% new biodynamic oak built a wine with real presence and structure.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Malbec grown alongside Petit Verdot thrives on gravelly soils and extended skin contact, extracting signature spice without harshness—perfectly suited to grilled lamb, duck confit, or dark chocolate. Serve at 13–16°C, decanting 15 minutes before service. This is equally at home as a serious weeknight pour or a table wine worth settling in with for Sunday lunch and date night. Explore more across Australia's finest reds, or browse our full Margaret River collection.