Leeuwin Estate, in the picturesque Margaret River district of Western Australia. Established in 1973 by Denis and Tricia Horgan and now under the direction of two generations, Leeuwin Estate has earned a reputation for producing wines ranking alongside the world’s finest and exports to 30 markets.
James Halliday has written, “Leeuwin Estate is a class act, every facet of its business working with the precision of a Swiss watch. It stands at the very forefront of estate-based, family owned wineries…” With point scores as high as 98/100, US Wine Spectator has included Leeuwin in the editor’s annual top 100 list on five occasions and the 2011 Art Series Chardonnay was named wine number 5 in the 2014 Top 100 wines.
The winery has been a pioneer in the business of wine tourism and incorporates a multi-award winning restaurant, tastings, behind the scene tours and stages numerous special events throughout the year, culminating in the annual series of spectacular summertime alfresco concerts featuring an eclectic array of the world’s greatest performers. Celebrating the Art of Fine Wine, Leeuwin adorns the labels of its premium wines with paintings commissioned from Australia’s leading artists, with the original artworks displayed in the Estate’s Art Gallery. Leeuwin is also the venue for the Gourmet Village, the hub of the acclaimed Margaret River Gourmet Escape food and wine festival, held each November.
97 Points Tyson Stelzer
Art Series sits at the bigger end of Margaret River’s chardonnay power set, unashamedly proclaiming grand fruit presence within a robust fram of 100% new French oak. It has done so with an admirable measure of finesse in recent years, though I feared the warmer 2011 vintage might trouble this style. To the contrary, sniper-like precision in picking early has captured the magnitude of this label with greater clarity of acid line and elegant focus than ever. Introducing one of the great vintages for LEASMRC. Constant oak trials across 23 coopers and some 900 new barrels a year have made for impeccable oak integration, maintaining the purity of grapefruit zest, white peach blossom and succulent fig, overlaid with wonderful hints of struck flint and gunpowder. Epic persistence, laser-focused acidity and outstanding drive.
98 Points James Halliday
There is always cause to genuflect in the presence of chardonnay royalty, such as that of Leeuwin Estate. It imposes its will without a flicker of effort; the line between citrus and stone fruit, and between oak and mineral comes and goes, leaving you grasping at straws; it’s a wine of flawless balance, line and length. Drink by 2031.