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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 89.4 pts. and median of 89 pts. in 41 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by SeaWine on 12/1/2023: I seemed to enjoy this slightly more than the average of folks here. New world with definite old world sensibilities (i.e. not overdone) to my taste. Not super complex, but quite enjoyable for me. (872 views) | | | Tasted by Pedroel on 11/5/2023 & rated 89 points: Fresh and somewhat simple. Pizza wine or dinner-with-friends. At least it’s not jammy and over extracted, like Australian wines of the past. (1265 views) | | | Tasted by Kim Gerner on 10/23/2023 & rated 92 points: Australian and new Zealand tasting (Copenhagen): Tasted 10 different cuvees from Leeuwin Estate and Felton Road.
This wine: Aromas of green pepper, mint. Savoury in style! (881 views) | | | Tasted by winepog on 9/7/2023 & rated 91 points: Fresh and lively as someone else wrote - I agree. This is a slightly restrained version of a cab and very nice. Some brighter, lighter fruit. Cheers! (1496 views) | | | Tasted by wmccone54 on 9/3/2023 & rated 90 points: Decanted. Fresh and lively, but still youthful at six plus years. Black currant, blackberry, black cherry and plum are framed by lots of un-integrated structural elements, i.e., acidity and tannins. Slightly hollow at mid-palate. Needs time to come together, but this might end up being pretty good. Hold, or drink short term with decanting; cellar through 2035. (1404 views) | | | Tasted by Brent25 on 8/19/2023 & rated 89 points: Clear medium ruby; clean medium plus nose of dust, plum jam and leather; dry; medium plus acidity; medium plus tannins; medium plus alcohol; medium plus body; medium plus flavour intensity; palate is tarter and follows nose; medium plus finish; disappointing wine - was expecting more given the age and the quality of the Chardonnay Art Series; pretty label but average wine - bad QPR; give it a few more years or is this as good as it gets? (1380 views) | | | Tasted by mkates2000 on 8/14/2023: . (1295 views) | | | Tasted by Purple Tooth on 3/21/2023 & rated 88 points: A very big structure to this, but awfully hollow for the frame. It is very absent in fruit and rich in creamy oak tannins with a varnish character. It does have a seriously long finish of the same varnish and warmth. You can tell it was a serious attempt that unfortunately misses for me. Pass (2368 views) | | | Tasted by TS on 3/11/2023 & rated 89 points: Drank over four days use of w/vacuum pump. Quite disappointing first days (first impression 87). Developing positively over the next four days. Surprisingly lean and aromas/flavours dominated by red fruits (currant, red cherry and plum). Lacks tannins and body. Medium length. (1747 views) | | | Tasted by redknife on 2/26/2023 & rated 89 points: Brief decant and poured
Middle of the week dinner
No formal notes
Easy drinking wine, not great
Fruity with subtle nose
Consistent with previous bottle
Wonder if the wine will develop more depth/complexity with time… (1862 views) | | | Tasted by THECORKDORK on 2/23/2023 & rated 91 points: Nice Aussie cab. Lighter and more balanced than most. Ripe currant & eucalyptus. (1716 views) | | | Tasted by silton on 2/1/2023: Gained some helpful sweetness on day 2. Drink with a decant or hold for the medium term. (1954 views) | | | Tasted by Lemari on 1/27/2023 & rated 87 points: Minimal nose, abrupt finish. A bit gamey on the palate, reminiscent of a Chinon. Relative to Leeuwin's outstanding Chards it's fair to call this CS a miss. Drink now, this vintage won't do you any favors down the road. (1332 views) | | | Tasted by redknife on 1/14/2023 & rated 89 points: Wish I could have decanted
Screw top off and poured at a BBQ night
No tasting notes
Did not disappoint and enjoyed the different style from the aussies (1456 views) | | | Tasted by Keith Cooper on 1/14/2023 & rated 90 points: Tasting of Leeuwin Estate Art Series, hosted by The Wine Society, UK. Dark red cherry colour. The nose is soft, blackcurrants passive. The palate is rich, full, mouth filling with vibrant blackcurrant fruit. Very good. (1168 views) | | | Tasted by AussieRoddy on 12/25/2022 & rated 91 points: Very well balanced, lovely soft and dark fruits complemented with mild tannin and oak. Nothing exceptional grabs the nose or palate, but a very well made wine. (1355 views) | | | Tasted by Lemari on 12/10/2022 & rated 89 points: A bit of an unusual flavor profile for a Margaret River cab, fairly gamey, I might have called a Bourgueil if tasting blind. Well balanced overall, but Leeuwin produces must higher quality Chards IMHO. (1467 views) | | | Tasted by rmalloy on 10/27/2022 & rated 90 points: As much as I like acidity in wines, I must confess that I prefer Bordeaux and Napa to Margaret River. When I taste a wine like this, I crave more ripe, sweet, thick fruit. But the aroma profile here is outstanding, world class even. This wine shows that cabernet sauvignon has a delicate, floral side. It is a special wine that would be great for food pairing (gazpacho?). But for drinking on its own, late at night, in a contemplative setting, this wine leaves much to be desired. (1699 views) | | | Tasted by SlimShaney on 7/31/2022 & rated 90 points: Forgettable cab sav (2065 views) | | | Tasted by Michael Hung on 7/6/2022 & rated 90 points: 7/6/2022 Double Blind Night at Kevin's: [Tasted double blind]
Pronounced intensity, jammy dark fruit notes, cassis, currant, red fruit, cherry, oak/cedar, baking spices, earth, wet dirt. Full body, med+/high tannins, high alcohol. Quite tannic and closed, but the stuffing underneath is impressive. I think this needs time, although not too shabby right now. 90+ pts (2122 views) | | | Tasted by RussK on 6/19/2022 & rated 91 points: Russk. LIked from the 2022 WS Grand Event. What you might expect from Margaret River: clean; restrained ABV (13.5%) and fruit. 91- (1775 views) | | | Tasted by MattMauldin on 6/6/2022: Favorites - 2022 Wine Spectator Grand Tour - Las Vegas: Aromas of red cherry & currant, black tea, eucalyptus, cedar and anise. Cool-toned red fruit on the palate with refined depth. Finely structured. (2103 views) | | | Tasted by Hail Cork Master! on 5/18/2022 & rated 83 points: Defiantly needs a more time. Tastes like tart raspberries. Pairs very well with a New York strip. But on its own it was “eh”. Smelled delicious. Looking forward to trying my other bottle in a few years. (1651 views) | | | Tasted by grapenomad on 9/28/2021 & rated 90 points: I never really understood drinking Leeuwin's Cabs this early. This is just so unripe, so unready, you can even smell it. It has that strong iron note which most young Cabs are marked with. The acidity is totally out of sync, making this wine appear steely & green. There is some good fruit concentration, but this will start coming together only in the next 3-4 years. Leave it in the cellar, for the love of everybody you know. (2466 views) | | | Tasted by Jeremy Holmes on 5/23/2021: So bright and vivid, with juicy briary fruits, some tobacco and plenty of lead pencil action. It has lovely balance and poise and is rich without any excess weight whatsoever. The finish is long and precise. (2296 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Sarah Ahmed
Decanter, Leeuwin Estate new releases (11/5/2021)
(Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Tamlyn Currin
JancisRobinson.com (11/5/2021)
(Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (9/27/2021)
(Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River Art Series, Australia) Subscribe to see review text. | By Mike Bennie
The WINEFRONT (6/1/2021)
(Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Halliday
Halliday Wine Companion (3/4/2021)
(Leeuwin Estate Art Series Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Halliday
Halliday Wine Companion (3/3/2021)
(Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River) Subscribe to see review text. | By Campbell Mattinson
The WINEFRONT (2/9/2021)
(Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Decanter and JancisRobinson.com and JamesSuckling.com and The WINEFRONT and Halliday Wine Companion. (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.
2017 Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art Series Tech Sheet 2017
% VARIETAL 98% CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 2% MALBEC
THE YEAR
Winter of 2016 was characteristically wet, with August experiencing a recent rainfall record with 228 mm - resulting in a significantly higher than average annual rainfall total. Chardonnay was the first variety to burst in late August, followed by the Riesling and Cabernet through September. Spring was generally milder and experienced slightly more rainfall than average. Flowering in all varieties was delayed 10 days as compared to 2016, with this period generally sunny, resulting in excellent set across most varieties. Summer was mild with few hot days, and veraison occurred 3 weeks later than in 2016. Harvest commenced in the Riesling in the last week of February, followed by Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in the first weeks of March. After early leaf removing across the fruit zone and thinning where necessary, the reds were able to hang well into a rain free April. The slow Autumn ripening allowed Shiraz and Cabernet to develop intense and vibrant fruit flavours with excellent tannin ripeness. A later than usual, but nonetheless excellent vintage.
TASTING NOTES
Dense and concentrated nose with blackcurrants, blueberries and boysenberries. A delicate fragrant lift of violets, lavender offer beautiful symmetry and balance. Laced beneath complex spices of cumin, clove, black cardamom and star anise, surrounded by an oceanic nuance throughout. Full of energy and vitality with elegant shape and frame, again black and blue fruits dominate the palate. There is dimension, drive, and penetration to the finish. Specifically, there are olive notes, combined with dried thyme, cedar and quartz-like minerality that weaves through to powdery graphite tannins.
VINIFICATION
After individual berry sorting and cold soaking, fermentation took place in closed, static fermenters at temperatures between 26C-30C with extraction by pumping over each individual parcel three times daily. After malolactic fermentation entirely in barrels and 9 months of barrel maturation, separate parcels were blended for further maturation in French Bordelaise coopered barriques with seasonal rackings. This wine spent 22 months in total in oak.
FINING Egg white
FINAL ALCOHOL 13.5%
FINAL ACID 6.96 G/L
BOTTLING DATE 1 Feb – 5 Feb 2019
TOAST LEVEL Medium
FILTRATION Sterile 0.45μm
BARREL MATURATION TIME 22 months
FINAL PH 3.35
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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