2021 Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay

Leeuwin Estate has always been my choice as Australia’s best maker of chardonnay, its wine is a mixture of purity and intensity, with length and balance underwriting its greatness. And it never misses the mark. JAMES HALLIDAY, Wine Companion 2021

Leeuwin Estate is an Australian masterpiece and represents the dream of ‘coming from nowhere to somewhere.’ It is an accidental creation born from happenstance and naivety yet steeped in ambition and generosity. Since 1969, Tricia and Denis Horgan have played an important role in defining the Margaret River wine region’s identity. Their vision to produce ‘wines which rank with the best of the world through the pursuit of excellence has been fulfilled in their lifetime, achieved by brilliant planning, hard work and a remarkable fidelity to nurture the nature…ANDREW CAILLARD MW, vintagejournal.com

One of the great estates of Margaret River with an international reputation for producing outstanding wines, particularly its fabulous Art Series chardonnay, a wine which focused international attention on the region. More recently the reds have been outstanding with excellent shiraz and cabernet the result of significant attention on viticulture. Now under the direction of two generations of the founding family. This is a winery that could easily rest on its laurels but that is not what Leeuwin is about and the continuing evolution of styles, even with the benchmark chardonnay, is impressive. RAY JORDAN, rayjordanwine.com

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If you’re receiving this email then you know about premium Aussie chardonnay – and you’d know about Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay. In the eyes of some, including James Halliday, it’s Australia’s greatest. Each vintage is hotly anticipated, and the release date for 2021 is next week, we’re happy for you to have first eyes on this iconic chardonnay.

A lot has been said about this brilliant wine – it has so much intensity, structure and detail that it is often mistaken for Grand Cru Burgundy in blind line-ups. Though they differ greatly in price – you can buy a dozen Leeuwin for one GC. 

Leeuwin has had skin in the game for a long time, since the 80s they shone the light on chardonnay and Margaret River to the rest of the world.  Their Art Series Chardonnay is ‘long-lived and fine-boned, with superb fruit definition and clarity. Exuberant fruit, savoury complexity, creamy richness, al dente textures and fresh indelible acidity,’ according to Andrew Caillard MW.  And it ages brilliantly too, gaining richness and flesh but maintaining freshness and minerality.

The reviews are just starting to appear, but given its release is next week we’re expecting many more extolling the virtues of the 21 Art Series Chardonnay. 2021 is a cooler vintage, the whites were picked before the rain set in. There are already a myriad of reviews below, as Huon Hooke says, ‘Tremendously concentrated and compact, with extreme drive and massive persistence, it positively vibrates with energy.’  

Led by winemaker Tim Lovett,  the Leeuwin team are at the forefront of making some of our best chardonnays and cabernets. Tim is a regular visitor to Burgundy and is always finetuning his wares.  His commitment to making great wine is tireless, and his ability to question and evolve is admirable.

Cheers

Gabrielle