Winery: Leeuwin Estate
Region: Margaret River
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon
Vintage: 2010
Your Wine Guy says:
Leeuwin Estate’s Classic Dry white is pale straw in the glass. The nose shows intense Sauvignon aromas of gooseberry and guava, with citrus and passionfruit mingling nicely also. The palate is full of rich flavours of passionfruit and gooseberry that flow across the palate to a crisp dry finish.
93 Points YWG Drink to 2013
Critics say:
“Mixed citrus, passionfruit and snow pea with a little jelly baby fragrance. It’s just ripe and soft enough but also flinty, tight and controlled – i.e. the balance is good. There’s no abrasion or harsh acidity and the finish is long, dry and grapefruity. A fine example of the classic regional blend.” (2009)
92 Points Gary Walsh The Wine Front
The winemaker says:
Colour: The colour is a pale to medium straw with bright green hues.
Nose: The bouquet shows lifted aromatics of cantaloupe, tropical fruit, ripe melon, hints of Frangipani and inviting lime.
Palate: The palate opens up to a fineness and softness of tropical fruit, subtle fig and fresh vibrant lime fruit on the finish. The flavours are long and lingering a wonderfully balanced wine.
Winery/Label Information:
“This outstanding winery and vineyard is owned by the Horgan family, with parents Denis and Tricia at the helm, son Justin as general manager. The Art Series Chardonnay is, in my opinion, Australia's finest example, based on the wines of the last 28 vintages. The decision to move to screwcap in 2004 brought a large smile to the faces of those who understand just how superbly the wine ages, unless sabotaged by sporadic oxidation (caused by cork). The large estate plantings, coupled with strategic purchases of grapes from other growers, provide the base for high-quality Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz; a hugely successful, quick-selling Art Series Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc; and lesser priced wines such as Prelude Chardonnay and Siblings Sauvignon Blanc Semillon.” James Halliday Wine Companion
In his Wine Atlas of Australia and New Zealand, leading wine writer, James Halliday writes "One can only stand in awe of the achievements of Leeuwin Estate and the Horgans in their unrelenting pursuit of excellence…" Following a review of 19 vintages of "Art Series" Chardonnays, Halliday concludes "This is Australia's greatest Chardonnay and one of the great wines of the world". In Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine, Halliday has written: "Leeuwin 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, its chardonnay widely regarded as Australia's finest, ranking with the world's best."
Leeuwin Estate, one of the founding wineries of the now famous Margaret River district, consistently produces wines that rank with the worlds 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. – Leeuwin Estate
Leeuwin Estate produces Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Pinot Noir Chardonnay Brut and their inimitable flagship Art Series Chardonnay.
Labels include:
Siblings - Sauvignon Blanc Semillon, Shiraz
Prelude Vineyards - Chardonnay, Cabernet Merlot
Art Series - Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
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