""It would not surprise me if this was considered the greatest Leeuwin chardonnay yet. 99 points" - Ray Jordan, Business News

With a short lull in Bordeaux 2022 releases, we finally had time to taste samples of Leeuwin Estate's most recent vintages.  What a treat they were!  We now offer the 'Art Series' 2020 Chardonnay, 2022 Riesling, 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2020 Shiraz, all with great confidence that you will love the wines.

A complete change in style after being immersed in claret since April, the four Art Series wines showed vibrant, pure fruit and a restrained, compact character on the palate that gave way to some deeply impressive intensity of flavour, practically exploding on the palate.  Despite this, they are all perfectly balanced, with three of the wines at a modest 13.5% Abv (the Riesling is 12%) and fresh acidity in the reds (at a pH of 3.4, lower than many Bordeaux 2022 reds).  Last year we compared them to their classic counterparts from France. The comparison stands, but the bright, opulent fruit is unmistakable as coming from anywhere but Western Australia's Margaret River.

Each wine performs beautifully at its price level, but the 2020 Chardonnay is in a league of its own, with a mind-blowingly intense struck match character (more firecracker than match!) and an awesome saline character that goes on and on.  The 2022 Riesling has riper, more tropical aromas on the nose compared to last year's pleasingly austere 2021 release.  The '22 has layers of lime, kiwi, mandarin, and sherbet aromas, but the palate is as focused as ever, with laser-like acidity. 

The 2020 Shiraz must be the Platonic ideal of this variety, again with subtle but perfectly defined aromas.  Complex fruit and spice notes (nutmeg, black pepper and star anise) are to the fore, but there are also feint aromas of blood, iodine and a touch of sweaty saddle in the background, suggesting this will develop beautifully.  Completing the Art Series range, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is alive with more of that intense salinity, framed by powerful but perfectly ripe tannins.

There is only one review from the mainstream critics so far, but the Australian wine press have awarded a slew of high scores, including 99 points for the Chardonnay, described as "the greatest yet".  As ever, allocations are very limited, so please let us know straight away if you would like to secure some.

NB below, you will also find listed our stocks of older vintages. 

Offered ex-cellar, expected in the UK from September 2023.