96 Points - Ken Gargett
Leeuwin Estate has been in rare form lately with a string of favourable vintages allowing it to produce some wonderful examples of Margaret River Shiraz under the 'Art Series' label.
The 2023 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Shiraz is fragrant and perfumed highlighted by violets and rose petal notes. Layered, luscious and concentrated, the palate delivers plenty of primary fruit flavours of blueberries and mulberries, with plenty of vibrancy and natural acidity through to the long, balanced finish. Another top-line Margaret River Shiraz from Leeuwin Estate that is sure to have plenty of admirers.
“96 Points. This just might be the value buy from the Art Series range - actually, from recent releases, it surely is. From a stellar vintage, the fruit was individually berry sorted with 20% whole bunches added to the ferment. Total maturation was for a year and a half in a mix of new and slightly older barriques and larger format French oak. A dark mauve/maroon colour here, this is beautifully structured. The aromas weave through blackfruits, plums, graphite, chocolate, aniseed, smoked meats and bay leaves. The oak has been superbly handled. This is an exquisite example of Margaret River Shiraz, one of the absolute elite. It is finely balanced with an attractively supple texture, laser-like focus and impressive length. A refined style, with melting tannins, which will continue to provide enormous pleasure over the next decade. One of their very best.”- Ken Gargett, Wine Pilot.
"95 Points. The 2023 Art Series Shiraz, which at this stage is pre-release, shows precision and detail on the nose, with raspberry leaf tea and iodine, blood and blood orange, licorice and milk chocolate. In the mouth, the acidity is intense, but it works so nicely within the layers of gently settled tannins-like sheets of tissue paper. It's a lovely wine, wearing the benefits of intensive viticultural work and matching effort in the winery.”- Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate.
