Building a Margaret River wine collection

Follow a Cabernet-led label by release

Cullen's 2022 Diana Madeline is 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec (Cullen’s 2022 Diana Madeline notes). Those figures give a particular vintage something concrete to compare with another.

If you want a sequence, gather each year's note rather than copying one blend across the whole list. Our Diana Madeline guide explains how to keep the season, producer account and finished wine distinct.

Give Chardonnay its own research

The regional association describes 2023 Chardonnay as elegant and fresh, with natural acidity (Margaret River Wine Association’s vintage reports). That makes a research lead, not a conclusion about every producer's release.

Choose named labels and obtain their own vintage notes. If you're new to the style, consider a smaller tasting-led purchase before buying substantial quantities. A strong Cabernet season doesn't automatically answer the Chardonnay question, or vice versa.

Compare reports at the right level

The regional report highlights 2018 as a particularly strong Cabernet vintage (Margaret River Wine Association’s vintage reports). For 2022 it describes quality and ripeness across varieties as moderate to excellent, which is a broader and less uniform assessment (Margaret River Wine Association’s vintage reports).

Keep that range in your notes instead of reducing it to “excellent year”. Ask what the particular winery reports, then inspect the proposed bottle history. The vintage guide gives you a repeatable order for those checks.

Decide what kind of collection you want

Choose between following a label, comparing one regional year or replenishing wines you enjoy. You can combine those interests eventually, but one clear starting project makes the first quantity decision easier.

A short tasting may need a few specific bottles, while repeat drinking purchases call for different quantities. Tell the team which outcome matters most. If a parcel mixes sources, ask for the history of each component rather than assuming one account covers the lot.

Translate the regional interest into a request

List full labels, acceptable years, formats and quantities where you know them. For an open brief, describe favourites and what you'd like to explore. Include the total budget, storage capacity and intended use.

Aaron and the team can explore options through the Cellars.com.au network. Availability and purchasing terms need confirmation. Read our larger-order guide if the plan involves several cases.

Keep the first project manageable

• One label: investigate several documented Diana Madeline releases.
• One year: compare named Cabernet-led wines from an agreed vintage.
• A new style: discuss a small Chardonnay selection before extending the brief.

These are example projects, not stock offers. Pick the one that interests you and let the collection grow from what you learn. Breadth can come later; it isn't a prerequisite for taking an interest.

Use a tasting to refine your preferences

Write down what you preferred on that occasion and what you know about the bottles. Different ages, formats and storage accounts may complicate the comparison. They don't prevent enjoyment, but they do limit the conclusions.

Use the result to make your next request more precise, not to publish a permanent league table. The tasting guide explains how to capture useful observations in language that still sounds like you.