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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.4 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 134 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by dbkitc on 8/23/2020 & rated 92 points: Super interesting wine. Color is dark ruby. The nose is ripe, new worldish Cabernet with blue fruits and finely integrated oak. Yet the palate is medium bodied, bright and decidedly old-world in weight and acid. I quite like this - should stay strong for a while. Nice. (92) (1955 views) | | | Tasted by nwebstar on 7/19/2020 & rated 93 points: Dark coloured but not overly densely so - no age tarnish whatsoever. Blackberry and mulberry, chocolate and iron filings. Still very fresh - years in it. (1815 views) | | | Tasted by Canaduh on 5/16/2020 & rated 85 points: Once opened up it was smooth and delicious.
Worth the wait but could have kept a few more years (1751 views) | | | Tasted by roasted hill on 10/29/2017: Notes entirely consistent with June's bottle. This has years left. Years! (3298 views) | | | Tasted by roasted hill on 6/30/2017: Ruby-red color. Remarkably short legs. Blueberry and boysenberry nose with pencil shavings, spice box and tobacco. Blackberry and blueberry with chocolate, fennel, cedar, and resolved tannins. Nice acidity and simply singing when taken alone yet great with london broil. A joy, and astounding QPR. (3840 views) | | | Tasted by pinoteer on 12/6/2014 & rated 94 points: This wine continues to impress. Penultimate bottle from a case. (6649 views) | | | Tasted by pinoteer on 11/5/2014 & rated 94 points: We both agreed that this wine has no flaws. This is what I thought this wine could become when I first tasted it 6 years ago. (6248 views) | | | Tasted by pinoteer on 7/4/2014 & rated 92 points: Drinks well right out of the bottle. Decanted anyway for an hour and a half. Plum, cassis, cranberries, and bell peppers. Great balance of fruit, fresh acidity, and tannins. Love this wine. Only 3 bottles remain from a case. (6890 views) | | | Tasted by pinoteer on 6/1/2014 & rated 94 points: Still drinking like a champ, even with minimal decant time. Only 4 bottles remaining, and I will miss these when they are gone. Hard to beat this Cab for the price. (5836 views) | | | Tasted by Kentw on 5/24/2014 & rated 88 points: Better than the last bottle. Not quite as sour or acidic. A better bottle than the last one or maybe 9 more months helped. Medium body, and noted some complexity as the wine is more balanced. Not bad but price point a bit high compared to other cabs. (5127 views) | | | Tasted by CamWheeler on 5/1/2014 & rated 91 points: Australian Wine Unearthed Public Tasting (Sydney, Australia): Briar, earth, redcurrant and blackberry. Really good grip and the fruit purity is nice. Showing well but plenty of life left. (2634 views) | | | Tasted by vintage_whine on 3/5/2014: relatively mute and simple, balck currant, light oak, but no great power or complexity. (2312 views) | | | Tasted by jkwatson on 3/5/2014 & rated 85 points: This was ok. After popping the screw-top, it was really oaky and unbalanced for a couple hours. After a few hours (and then days), it came into balance, but ended up fairly non-assuming. Pretty run of the mill cab. Nothing special. (1661 views) | | | Tasted by pinoteer on 9/20/2013 & rated 94 points: Wonderful Cabernet aromas and flavors. Cassis, blackberries, green pepper, eucalyptus, licorice, and some blood/iron flavors. I still have a half case, but plan to finish these in the next two years. (2497 views) | | | Tasted by pinoteer on 9/15/2013 & rated 93 points: Still delicious. Hard to find a better Cab for the price. A couple more years and this may start to decline, but it is prime right now. (2469 views) | | | Tasted by Kentw on 8/25/2013 & rated 82 points: Medium bodied, not much fruit left, some sour cherry, mushroom, tobacco notes and lots of acidity. Too acidic at this time, off balance. Not much tannins left. It is heavily skewed towards a dry, acidic sour entry, mid palate and finish. There are folks who like this style, but not my cup of tea. a bit less acidity and some more fruit could have made a lot of difference. Almost tastes as if it was made with immature fruit. Past year it went from being balanced to this. Last year felt it had improved per my last note, but now it no longer suits my palate. (2547 views) | | | Tasted by nschmidt on 7/1/2013 & rated 91 points: Drank at Tishas in Cape May with friends. The favorite of the group on the night. Typical cabernet flavors but not overdone. Nice balance and very smooth. (2531 views) | | | Tasted by mgl on 6/11/2013 & rated 90 points: Very nice cab. (2361 views) | | | Tasted by Softie on 5/29/2013: Beautiful Margaret River Cabernet. In terrific shape under Stelvin. Tannins have remaining strength, ie it has years of life left. Fragrant Mulberries and Eucalyptus and earth. (1793 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 1/13/2013: Purple tending to ruby. Initially it's bit of an oak bomb - all vanilla and cream - but with time and agitation it starts giving off bramble, blackcurrant, biscuit and toast underpinned by a slight eucalyptus and mint note. In the mouth brambles and leather are to the fore over vanilla and cream. the eucalyptus is less prevalent and warm alcohol and spice take over on the long finish. (2441 views) | | | Tasted by benny on 9/16/2012 & rated 92 points: Opened for 1 hour and drank over 2 hours. No change...maybe a bit of nose showed up. The palate is the strong point and I think it is time to drink. Doubt if it will get better with time? (3012 views) | | | Tasted by Bdbrutus on 8/26/2012 & rated 92 points: Last bottle, drinking very well right now. Great balance of fruit and secondary flavors. (2958 views) | | | Tasted by Mattshank on 7/25/2012 & rated 92 points: Nose: Cedar and cigar box with red fruits (cherries and some raspberry), mint, and later cassis aromas. The mint was subtle and kept going in and out, which was interesting. Palate: Soft styled and plush with red and blue fruits, hints of mint, cassis and a medium length finish. At 8 years of age this is showing very well. First Leeuwin I have had and it is very solid. Although new world reminds me of a Pauillac with the cedar and cigar box aspects. Good stuff. 92+ points. (3047 views) | | | Tasted by rocknroller on 7/25/2012 & rated 92 points: Very dark red color. Pop and pour with bottle aeration. Drank 3 glasses over 3 hours. Nose is lovely, with creme de cassis, dry earth initially becoming moist with time, blueberry, prominent cigar box and cedar box, espresso, crushed flowers, light mint. The palate is fullbodied and soft, round well integrated tannis, consistent with the nose and adding some spice and oak on the long finish. Last bottle and still singing 92+pts. (3036 views) | | | Tasted by Kentw on 4/8/2012 & rated 89 points: A well balanced cab. A mix of black and red fruits, with some sour cherry and some mild vegetal characteristics on the finish. Has fairly smooth tannins, some acidity as well. Not a big cab though it gets better with decanting and age. A lot better than the bottle I had a couple of years ago where I didn't see what the hype was all about as it was quite ordinary- maybe an 86 - 87 rating then. Not overly complex. At $30 in 2008 for what I paid - there are more interesting cabs for the money. For those who like a classic - medium to full bodies Australian cab, this is a good bet. It was overhyped by WL and GV but a solid cab overall - just pricy for what you get. (2769 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (11/16/2017)
(Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River Art Series, Australia) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (11/16/2017)
(Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River Red) Subscribe to see review text. | The World of Fine Wine, September 2010, Issue #29
(Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River)) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (12/21/2009)
(Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Gary Walsh
The WINEFRONT (7/6/2009)
(Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon) Subscribe to see review text. | By Campbell Mattinson
The WINEFRONT (6/23/2009)
(Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Halliday
Halliday Wine Companion (2/2/2009)
(Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon) Subscribe to see review text. | By Josh Raynolds
Vinous, July/August 2008, IWC Issue #139
(Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art Series Margaret River) Subscribe to see review text. |  By Gary Vaynerchuk
Wine Library TV, And The Winner Is, Episode #627 (2/20/2009)
(Leeuwin Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon) #1; COLOR-dark; NOSE-very creamy; vanilla & strawberry bursting; like strawberry candy pie; very elegant; TASTE-clearly some Oak (baby Oak Monster); I think there's going to be a lot of people that REALLY like this; licorice & eucalyptus bursting; black cherry soda for days; great elegance; great cream; great length; big boy; will last for another 5-7 years easy; this is what New World is all about; great length; still tasting the Hostess Cherry Pie; an underlying sundried tomato meets basil on the finish, but can't deny the polish, approachability; length & brightness of the fruit; this is very, very well made wine; this would compete favorably against many $60-$80 California Cabs; JR-94; GV-92+ 92+ points | By David Vogels, CWP
Sommelier Journal, March 15, 2011
(Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art Series, Margaret River) 9% Malbec; aged 23 months in French oak and three years in bottle before release. Garnet with a pink rim, this version features an aromatic nose of tobacco leaf and blackcurrant. Juicy black fruits enter on the silky-textured palate; the acidity carries through a lengthy finish. Winery Spotlight: Leeuwin Estate |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of JamesSuckling.com and JancisRobinson.com and The World of Fine Wine and The WINEFRONT and Halliday Wine Companion and Vinous and Wine Library TV and Sommelier Journal. (manage subscription channels) |
| Leeuwin Estate Producer web site
U.S. Importer (Addt'l Info)
History
Leeuwin Estate, one of the founding wineries of the now famous Margaret River district, consistently produces wines that rank with the world's finest.
In 1972, following an extensive search for the area most suitable to produce the best varietal wines in Australia, legendary American winemaker, Robert Mondavi, identified the future site of the Leeuwin vineyard.
Originally a cattle farm, Leeuwin Estate evolved, under the direction of Denis and Tricia Horgan, with Robert Mondavi acting as consultant and mentor.
A nursery was planted in 1974 and the initial vineyards were deep-ploughed, deep-ripped, emptied of stone, planned, pegged, measured, marked and eventually planted by hand over a five year period from 1975.
Featuring state-of-the art facilities, the winery building was opened in 1978, celebrating with a trial vintage. Leeuwin enjoyed its first commercial vintage in 1979, and was thrust into the international spotlight when Decanter Magazine gave its highest recommendation to the 1980 "Art Series" Chardonnay in an international blind tasting.
Maintaining a team of highly skilled and dedicated winemakers, and now under the direction of two generations of the founding family, Leeuwin now exports to over 30 countries.
Environment
Leeuwin Estate, an iconic producer of premium wines made from grapes grown in the Margaret River region of Western Australia, recognises that its environmental responsibilities are of significant importance to its staff, suppliers, customers and the local community.
As a family business the Estate is committed to managing the environmental effects of its operations through responsible stewardship, with the aim of maintaining a sustainable environment for future generations. To accomplish these goals Leeuwin Estate applies best practice standards for environmental management in all facets of the business.
The Margaret River district features pristine white sandy beaches, spectacular coastline and amazing surf. It is surrounded by majestic karri forests, is nestled within picturesque farmland and enjoys a balmy temperate climate.
Complemented by fine restaurants, art galleries and boutique luxury accommodation, Margaret River has spawned one of the world's most dynamic and innovative wine tourism industries.
Located in the South West of Western Australia, approximately 280 km south of Perth, Leeuwin Estate enjoys a unique environment that is highly complementary to the production of high quality varietal wines.
Less than 6 km from the ocean, Leeuwin Estate is approximately midway between Cape Naturaliste to the north and Cape Leeuwin, Australia’s most southwesterly point.
The area between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin is one of the most ancient parts of the world. It became isolated when the continental crust split leaving a 100 km sedimentary basin between it and the mainland. Today the basin contains some of the world’s largest mineral sand deposits.
This granitic island, where the Leeuwin vineyard is located, has weathered over millions of years and now provides us as vignerons with the ancient free draining gravel soils, which are highly complementary to the culture of the vine, as well as promoting great finesse in the wine.
Leeuwin’s rainfall is dictated by the “Roaring 40’s” which move north in our winter and south in our summer, with the oscillation of the earth. 85% of rainfall is therefore received during the cooler six months.
With oceans on three sides only changing water temperature by two degrees between summer and winter, the district has its own microclimate. Leeuwin’s vineyards are therefore protected from extremes of temperature and are frost-free during the critical spring growing period.
The mean daily maximum and minimum temperatures during the summer season are very similar to those of Bordeaux. The significant difference however is that our season opens slightly earlier and closes slightly later, providing us with greater latitude to ripen our fruit, whilst also accommodating earlier ripening varieties such as Chardonnay.
In all, the weather conditions in an “average” year in Margaret River equate to those that Bordeaux only enjoys occasionally in “great” years.
From Fruit to Wine
Great wines are born in great vineyards, and at Leeuwin the viticulturist and winemaker work hand-in-hand throughout the entire winemaking process, combining their skills to create wines of distinction.
Careful study, and the eventual grafting of some vines has revealed the best varieties for the Leeuwin vineyard to be Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon; Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz make up the diversity of the vineyard, which also incorporates smaller plantings of varieties utilised for blending.
Enjoying such an isolated and pristine natural environment, the emphasis of Leeuwin's viticultural practice is minimal interventionist. Working with the environment and through skilled vineyard management, Leeuwin is able to produce fine fruit in an environmentally friendly manner.
Vineyards are kept balanced with the yearly environmental conditions. With the emphasis on quality rather than quantity, yields at Leeuwin are kept low.
Boasting one of the most modern wineries in the Southern hemisphere, Leeuwin Estate offers its winemakers all the advantages of new age technology.
Winemaking however is an art as well as a science, and it is here where the skills of the winemaker are carefully combined with technology to produce the wines that have been so highly acclaimed.
Broadly following European winemaking techniques, Leeuwin is concentrating on achieving complexity, balance and longevity in its wines through a blend of modern and traditional methods.
Temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, two Bucher Pneumatic presses, and a cellar of imported French oak barrels, are at the disposal of the winemaker to ensure that the fruit is transformed into the intended style of wine.
Leeuwin Estate Wines
Leeuwin Estate releases its wines under four labels, the Art Series, Prelude Vineyards and Siblings. Whilst the wines in each portfolio follow different lives, they all share a place amongst the great wines of Australia, receiving much international acclaim and attention.
The “Art Series” represents Leeuwin’s finest wines from each vintage. The winemakers have always selected the optimum fruit, transforming it into Leeuwin’s highest quality and age-worthy wines. They are identified with paintings commissioned from leading contemporary Australian Artists.
Whilst "Art Series" wines are designed to age and ultimately to be the most opulent, "Prelude Vineyards" wines are made from fruit producing the most readily expressive wines, with the objective that they will drink well soon after release. A Chardonnay and a Cabernet Merlot are released under this label. During the course of assessing fruit from the vineyards, the winemakers have found that certain blocks, and even certain rows in particular blocks, tend to consistently produce fruit best suited to either of the two styles of Cabernet and Chardonnay they make.
The "Siblings" label represents wines intended for fresh early drinking. As a family business, this label celebrates the role the second generation of the Horgan family has played in the ongoing development of Leeuwin Estate.
2004 Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art SeriesRelease notes
The colour is intense ruby red with garnet tints. The bouquet displays the classic Cabernet Sauvignon notes from the greatest growing years in Margaret River. They consist of lifted and intense blackberry, blackcurrant and mulberry fruits, with the enhancement of cedary French oak for complexity, intermingled with spice and dark chocolate. The palate shows a full bodied wine with intense blackberry and blackcurrant fruit dominating with hints of mocha and chocolate rounding off the complex flavours. This wine has great fruit length with smooth and silky tannins that provide a soft but lingering finish.Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art SeriesTHE STORY
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon is made up of the Houghton clone and a touch of malbec. Batch vinification is followed by maturation in new (50%) French oak and one-year-old “chateau” barrels for up to 24 months. In classic southern Margaret River style, this wine is typified by blackcurrant, cassis and tobacco leaf aromas, underlying savoury, new oak and muscular, fine tannin structures.
Top Vintages Langton's Classification Outstanding
2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001, 1997, 1995, 1991.Cabernet SauvignonCabernet Sauvignon is probably the most famous red wine grape variety on Earth. It is rivaled in this regard only by its Bordeaux stablemate Merlot, and its opposite number in Burgundy, Pinot Noir. From its origins in Bordeaux, Cabernet has successfully spread to almost every winegrowing country in the world. It is now the key grape variety in many first-rate New World wine regions, most notably Napa Valley, Coonawarra and Maipo Valley. Wherever they come from, Cabernet Sauvignon wines always seem to demonstrate a handful of common character traits: deep color, good tannin structure, moderate acidity and aromas of blackcurrant, tomato leaf, dark spices and cedarwood.
Used as frequently in blends as in varietal wines, Cabernet Sauvignon has a large number of common blending partners. Apart from the obvious Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the most prevalent of these are Malbec, Petit Verdot and Carmenere (the ingredients of a classic Bordeaux Blend), Shiraz (in Australia's favorite blend) and in Spain and South America, a Cabernet – Tempranillo blend is now commonplace. Even the bold Tannat-based wines of Madiran are now generally softened with Cabernet SauvignonAustralia Wine Australia (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) | Australian Wines (Wikipedia)Western Australia Wine Regions of Western AustraliaMargaret Riverhttps://margaretriver.wine/ |
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