Australia

Leeuwin- Riesling

  • Leeuwin Estate is highly respected for its “Art Series” wines that include:
    Cabernet Sauvignon
    Chardonnay
    Riesling
    Sauvignon Blanc
    Shiraz
    Brut sparkling wine from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

They were one of the founding wineries in the Margaret River region, starting in the early 1970’s. Denis and Tricia Horgan transformed a cattle farm into the vineyards and winery, and engaged Robert Mondavi for a key visit in 1972 when he helped them get started.

The estate is still run by the Horgan family, now with three generations active. The first vineyards were planted in 1975 and the first vintage was 1979. They were soon into the international wine spotlight after a Decanter magazine recommendation in 1981 for the Art Series

Chardonnay.
The Art Series wines feature paintings from famous Australian artists. These wines represent the estate’s finest and most age-worthy offerings. Art Series Chardonnay has been included in the special designation of ‘1st Classified,’ reserved for a small cohort of wines representing the most desirable wines in Australia that compete with the world’s finest.
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay and Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon are both included in the prestigious ‘Langtons Classification of Australian Wine, representing Australia’s most highly sought-after wines based on consumer demand, collectability, and prices fetched at auction. Art Series Chardonnay has been included in the special designation of ‘1st Classified,’ reserved for a small cohort of wines representing the most desirable wines in Australia that compete with the world’s finest. 

Tasting Notes:
Robert Parker: 92 points
(Reviewed by Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate.) The 2022 Art Series Riesling leads with fleshy lime and green apple skins. There is always a presence of galangal/coriander/loquat, and that remains consistent this vintage. Tight and focused despite the warmer vintage, judicious picking has produced a wine that is interestingly lean, as well as fleshy. That’s a combination of the vintage, the region and the expression of the variety here in Margaret River. The phenolics are savory and curve through the fruit through the finish, keeping the wine tight and focused. Healthy canopies in the vineyard help to shade the fruit, retain natural acidity and promote the purity of fruit flavors in the finished wine. This is one of the very few Riesling vineyards in Margaret River, and it’s consistently expressive. The vines were planted in 1975/76.