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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2006 and 2010 (based on 102 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 88.7 pts. and median of 90 pts. in 13 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by chatters on 8/19/2022: Festival of Phil (Phil's place, Putney, Sydney): From Coravin. Lime, stony minerality, a little lime cordial and kerosene. Juicy, lime juice but this is more in the softly engaging space, simple, a little honey reveals the age, long with slight warmth but this is otherwise very nice. (507 views) | | | Tasted by chatters on 2/16/2021: Phil's Coravin exploration (Phil's place, Putney, Sydney): From Coravin. Kerosene, lime, a little minerality almost, with time a touch of tomato leaf. Pronounced acidity, bone dry, sharp, lime and tomato leaf, a little creamy underpin and a touch of alcohol warmth. (750 views) | | | Tasted by ecola on 8/15/2011 & rated 91 points: Very dry and stoney flavors. A lot of petrol with some lemon peel lurking in the background. Long mineral laced finish. (2465 views) | | | Tasted by RCS on 2/22/2011: Yellow in the glass not yet gOlden. Beautifully aromatic a spicy on the nose ripe pineapple and delightfully balance. Slight spice on the palate and overall a fantastic riesling. Still a lot of aging to be done. (2682 views) | | | Tasted by jonradus on 1/25/2011 & rated 90 points: I smell none of the typical aged riesling smells, such as petrol; however, I do smell some canned vegetables...sort of like an aged sauvignon blanc, some lemon, lime, and butter. The taste is very citrusy with jolyrancher lemon, lime, and green apple. The finish has a juicy marshmallow overtone, which I like. This is a pretty unique aged riesling and I'm glad I have another one. (2685 views) | | | Tasted by SimonK on 1/14/2011 & rated 85 points: Petrol notes on the nose as well as overipe Mango
On the Palate Lime, Caipirinja, Tangerine with peel (2589 views) | | | Tasted by TaitaJidou on 2/20/2010 & rated 86 points: A bit past its prime. But still some nice flavor to it. Just not as crisp and fresh as one would expect from a Riesling. (2479 views) | | | Tasted by markellen.foodies@gmail.com on 7/11/2008 & rated 90 points: At the Setai, Miami Beach. Charlie's wine. Initially was eclipsed by the 94 Aux Moines Savennieres, but on its own was excellent with the spicy Asian cuisine. Reflects well on the vintage, which I presume and hope will extend to the Art Series Chard of which i have a cs. (2901 views) | | | Tasted by psmith on 11/27/2006: A really nice lemon-scented minerallity to the nose, great purity and charicteristic petrol fumes. Nice palate, but doesn't quite live up to the hype of the nose - rather simple and angular. Medium-bodied and nicely textured, but somewhat neutral; still, in good balance and a very nice wine overall, especially considering the price. (2221 views) | | | Tasted by dwbumsted on 10/28/2006 & rated 90 points: Great wine, Green apple, lemon, limeand honey flavors. Refreshing. My wife tastes margarita. Nough said. (1881 views) | | | Tasted by thebonnydooner on 4/22/2005 & rated 91 points: Also drank at Tupelos in Whitefish. This was the appetizer wine - and a good one. Very dsitinctive nose - very Riesling with hints of petrol, apple and pear. Really nice zingy, balanced fruit - some sweetness from the fruit but lots of acidity to make it a great appertif wine. This was impressive. Probably an older vintage than you could find in the stores, but I will be looking for it.
Oh - this was $32 on the restaurant wine list - a steal. They had a 2002 Dead Arm for $87 as well - next time..... (2354 views) | | | Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 8/2/2004 & rated 88 points: Does not live up to its reputation for me, lacks the excitement and tension of a great Riesling, relatively soft, nice ripe fruit. (733 views) | | | Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 2/7/2004 & rated 87 points: Académie des Cinquante Ad Bibendum Australia Tasting (Restaurant De Hooge Heerlijkheid, Middelharnis, the Netherlands): Cool greenish white gold; white stonefruit, waxy, light and harmonious; light, supple and juicy, ripe fruit; good length, tingling acidity. (1086 views) |
| 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.
2002 Leeuwin Estate Riesling Art SeriesCork closure
Bright straw green in colour.
The 2002 opens with intense aromatics: the perfume of lime and citrus flowers in general are immediately apparent. There is also a fruity fullness like sweet grapefruit underpinning the lift adding volume and depth to the nose.
The palate is richly citrus and clean with the natural acidity perfectly balancing the fruit. This wine is great drinking now and though lovely and fresh on its own cries out to pair with some delicately flavoured seafood. The 2002 wine we believe compares very well with our renowned 2000 vintage and is from a low vineyard yield coupled with very cool ripening conditions together with clean non-interventionist winemaking.Riesling Varietal character (Appellation America) | A short history of Riesling (Uncork) | Riesling (wikipedia)Australia Wine Australia (Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation) | Australian Wines (Wikipedia)Western Australia Wine Regions of Western AustraliaMargaret Riverhttps://margaretriver.wine/ |
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