Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay 2019 Magnum
Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay on release is an achingly painful thing to drink, because once you've known the utter pleasure these wines bring at 5 or more years of age, it becomes a mess of cognitive dissonance to drink them so young. They are closed, taut, coiled, but more than anything, populated by rippling fruit that undulates untold through the interminably long finish. They typically don't reveal their kaleidoscopic spice and prismatic fruit flavour until a little further down the track. So, all I can humbly do here, is place the vintage in context. Through the lens of the cool year, this glitters with a purity and finesse that is deeply attractive. Aligned in style with the 2017. Drink to 2042. 98 Points. Erin Larkin, Halliday's Wine Companion.
It’s interesting to note the more refined, tighter style that Leeuwin has delivered over the last handful of years. They are still powerful, and rich in oak, but show less alcohol warmth and what you might call ‘breathiness’ these days. Anyway, a very good vintage for Chardonnay was 2019. Pear, lemon oil, grapefruit, ginger, cinnamon and cedar oak, with a distinctly savoury sort of hazelnut character, along with some vanilla and white flower perfume. It’s tight, powerful, saline and precise, with a firm flintiness to texture, quite chalky, and superb spicy length with an almost umami aftertaste. I’m thinking grapefruits and biscuits, grilled nuts, even citrus zest. And for all its power and oak, it keeps itself racy and refined. It’s a cracking release. Drink 2025-2032+. 97 Points. Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.
“The foundation vineyard of Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet is the 1975-planted Block 8. The vineyard is meticulously managed to promote the development of high intensity fruit and fine classical grainy tannins. Although the growing season and maritime climate are similar to Bordeaux, the atmospheric conditions, lateritic soils, Karri forests and bush-garrigue bring a very different and highly particular set of challenges. The region also has an astonishing diversity of bird life which presents difficulties. Most vineyards are nowadays netted after veraison to stave off the squadrons of Australian ringneck 28ers (Twenty Eight Parrots). Deep crimson. Classical blackcurrant cedar aromas with lifted espresso, roasted chestnut notes. Inky deep and beautifully concentrated wine with dense blackcurrant, dark plum, dark chocolate flavours, fine grainy/chocolately tannins and perfectly integrated cedar oak. A superb grainy firm finish and mineral length. A great Leeuwin Estate Cabernet. Now – 2040”. Rating: 99 points - Andrew Caillard MW, The Vintage Journal
“One of the last wines released from the great 2018 Margaret River vintage, this has to be one of the finest cabernets yet from Leeuwin. Supremely balanced and poised with stylish lines through to a very long finish. Scented aromas of cedar and leafy blackcurrant with a trace of oyster shell. The palate is quite brilliant with the distinct chalky tannins and super fine grained oak holding the fruit gently to its extended finish. Great wine here.”Rating: 97 points - Ray Jordan, Wine Pilot
