The 2019 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series from the Margaret River region in Western Australia is a standout wine receiving high praise from several esteemed reviewers. This chardonnay is noted for its elegance and complexity, attributed to a cooler vintage which allowed for aromatic and detailed flavors. With an alcohol content of 13.5%, this wine is sealed with a cork closure.
Decanter awarded it a remarkable 98 points, describing it as "gloriously perfumed, pure and precise," and highlighting its "terrific length, poise and intensity." The review praises the interplay of flavors, including "succulent poached pear" and "custard apple sweetness," with a texture enriched by "lanolin, cinnamon, and lemon puff biscuit."
Similarly, Halliday Wine Companion also gave it 98 points, noting that the wine is "closed, taut, coiled" in its youth but promises "utter pleasure" as it matures. The reviewer draws parallels with the 2017 vintage, emphasizing the "purity and finesse" that are deeply attractive.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated it 97 points, recognizing its "svelte, mineral form" and recommending further aging to allow "extra complexity layered over the fruit." The wine's production involves hand-picked fruit from blocks planted in the late 1970s, with whole bunch pressing and aging in new oak barrels.
Vinous, with a score of 96, describes the wine as "tightly wound and bursting with youthful vitality," appreciating its "seamlessness and power" and the "fantastic fruit volume." It identifies flavors of "praline, nougat, citrus, and spicy oak" leading to an "immense length."
Wine Spectator and James Suckling also praise the wine, awarding it 95 and 94 points, respectively. Wine Spectator highlights its "succulent and distinctive" profile with notes of "crème fraîche" and "salted butterscotch," while James Suckling admires its "elegant yet powerful" character with layers of "creamy and phenolic" textures.
Overall, the 2019 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series is a wine of exceptional quality and potential, highly recommended for both immediate enjoyment and further aging.