Leeuwin Art Series: putting Western Australia on the world stage

The 'Goldilocks vintage' for Australia’s greatest Chardonnay

It is one of Australia's greatest wineries, and it began with an unexpected visitor. In 1972, there weren't many wineries in Western Australia, and making wine hadn’t occurred to Perth businessman Denis Horgan. But one day, Napa Valley legend Robert Mondavi turned up and tried to buy his Margaret River cattle ranch. Mondavi was convinced it would be an ideal spot for premium winemaking. Denis had no intention of selling, but he listened carefully - and so was born Leeuwin Estate.

Mondavi mentored Denis and his wife Tricia through their early years, and the Horgans soon learned that great winemaker had been quite right. Margaret River wasn't even a recognised wine zone, yet it's ideal: with the Indian ocean on three sides, sea breezes sweep in and temper the hot weather. These bring the sort of balance great wines need. The Horgans made a fabulous Cabernet to begin with, but it was their Chardonnay that ended up propelling them onto the world stage.

Wine writer Mark Davidson has described the Leeuwin Art Series as 'the most awarded Chardonnay in the history of Australia'. It is always complex, elegant and long-lived, and it competes very naturally with the world's premier Chardonnays. In 2023, it enjoyed what local winemakers are calling a 'Goldilocks vintage', everything just right. Flowering was excellent. There was little disease pressure, and no heat spikes or summer storms. Also from 2023, we are happy to offer the lovely, blueberry-and-cherry-blossom Art Series Shiraz, and the hotter 2022 vintage has brought meltingly ripe tannins to the black olive and graphite of the great Art Series Cabernet. /NT

Offered subject to remaining unsold. Wines available imminently. To place an order, click on the wines below or call 020 7638 5998