I was fortunate enough to attend a Leeuwin Estate Masterclass panel hosted by their Chief Winemaker Tim on their Art Series range the other day with the Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon on offer.
The following below are my impressions on each wine:
2006 Art Series Chardonnay ($110+ approx)
Straw colour, plenty of toasty characteristics on the nose, palate shows a lot of bread on the front with a really wonderful honeysuckle finish that lingers at the back nicely for long enough. I'd say a 8/10. My favourite of the Chardonnay offered to date, I wouldn't hold onto this for more than 5 years though, I say this is due to the overall cold year it was for 2006.
2007 Art Series Chardonnay ($110+ approx)
Light straw colour. Pretty amazing the difference one vintage can make as the delivery for 2007 is constrained with lots of primary fruit upfront. Lot's of acid that just cuts across the palate. Pretty short finish with tropical fruit. A 7/10. Needs another 5 years to see secondary fruit come through I think.
2009 Art Series Chardonnay ($110+ approx)
Lots of fruit upfront with low oak on the back palate. A new direction for their Chardonnay. I can see this being a winner eventually...watch this space in years to come when this wine becomes three to four times the value that is currently is. An 8/10 now. Give it a decade to do it's thing though.
2006 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon ($110+ approx)
Nice violet colour given its age. Oddly found the taste of asaparagas in it. Again this is probably from 2006 and their cool year. Short finish on the back palate. Tim said it needed at least another thirty years...not so sure on that one. A 6/10.
2007 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon ($110+ approx)
Massive difference again. Massive fruit almost like concentrated Ribena. Massive tannins that made my teeth get that furry feeling across them. Brrrrr. The finish was short again though. Again another recommendation for thirty years...what do you think? A 6/10.
2008 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon ($110+ approx)
Bingo! Best of the Cabs tasted. If you want the closest experience to Burgundy you'll find it here. Very supple tannins, yummy plum and mocha tones on the front with a soft finish. Recommended to drink now I think. Again another thirty year wait said to us. A 8/10.
