Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2015
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#38 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2018
Classical pear skin, lime and white peach fruit spectrum defines the nose, amidst sweeter notes of nougat, sesame brittle and brioche. It is concentrated and complex with subtle fragrant jasmine and savory flint and wet stone. A tightly directed palate, yet with enviable length. Woven layers of lemon curd, cut lime and grapefruit pith penetrate throughout the palate with a distinctive mineral thread. Delicate oak use presents gentle complexing notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and hazelnuts.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Early summer was cooler than average with little rain. Harvest commenced in early February, when the nights were slightly warmer than average but there were no extremely hot days. The expressive 2015 reveals mille-feuille layers of heady oak that's smoky with a kiss of sweet spices, joined by rock melon, grainy dried pear, peach, green pineapple, nougat and buttered popcorn. A relentless push of grapefruity acidity leavens and provides backbone and drive to this focussed wine.
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Wine Spectator
Supple and creamy up front, with precision to the nutmeg, lemon curd, verbena and mandarin orange flavors, which are intense and harmonious. The elegant body and lingering accents of ginger and citrus zest elevate this white to something special. Drink now through 2028.
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Wine Enthusiast
This vintage weaves its way through aromas of lemon verbena, grapefruit rind, sea spray and cashew that move to a palate that is precise and textural. Flavors of citrus, nuts and seashell radiate, boosted by crackling acidity and an endlessly long, lemony finish.Editors' Choice
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James Suckling
This beast from the west is in great shape in 2015. It delivers that heady mix of rich and powerful peaches and citrus on the nose, which are framed in nicely integrated oak. The palate has a luscious, full texture, delivering a punchy array of powerful citrus and stone fruit.
TOP 100 AUSTRALIAN WINES OF 2018
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In 1972, legendary Napa Valley winemaker, Robert Mondavi, first identified the future site of the Leeuwin vineyard as being ideal for the production of premium wine and provided early mentorship to owners, Denis and Tricia Horgan in the establishment of Leeuwin Estate. The first vines were planted by hand over a five year period from 1973.
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, Leeuwin Estate is now under the direction of two generations of the founding family.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Home to some of Australia’s most elegant and long-lived red and white wines, Margaret River is situated in the farthest reaches of Western Australia. Relatively warm and dry, the region is cooled by breezes from the Indian Ocean. Margaret River takes some inspiration from Bordeaux, producing top-quality Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux Blends with firm structure, mouthwatering acidity, balanced alcohol and notes of herbs and spice. For white wines, refreshing blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon as well as complex, age-worthy Chardonnays are regional specialties.