- Country Australia
- Region Western Australia
- Sub-region Margaret River
- Website Visit website
One of the greatest names in Australian wine – and a source of one of the world’s most iconic Chardonnays, the Art Series – it’s remarkable that Leeuwin was established as recently as the 1970s. More remarkable still, its founders, Denis and Tricia Horgan, were drawn to Margaret River not by its potential for viticulture, but by the spectacular waves at Redgate Beach (Denis having been a keen surfer). A chance meeting with Robert Mondavi persuaded the Horgans that it would be worth planting vines on the land they’d acquired, to the fine wine world’s great benefit.
Today it seems easy to recognise why Mr Mondavi saw such potential here. The climate is shaped by the confluence of the Indian and Southern Oceans. Extremes of temperature are rare, evenings tend to be cool throughout the year, and there is no lack of water. Margaret River is something of a paradise for winemaking.
The region has become most closely associated with top Chardonnay and Cabernet, though Shiraz, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc also excel. The diversity of grape varieties at Leeuwin speaks of an array of granitic soils and aspects, unique within Margaret River, carved out by the Boodjidup Brook.
CEO Simone Furlong, Denis and Tricia’s daughter, and winemaker Tim Lovett have, in recent years, placed increased emphasis on Leeuwin’s red wines, notably in the Art Series Shiraz which is perfumed, fresh and often more reminiscent of the Northern Rhône than Barossa. But Leeuwin’s calling card remains its Chardonnay, both the outstanding Prelude, for earlier drinking, and the Art Series, from plots including the famous Block 20 – dubbed by some the Montrachet of Margaret River – and raised for 11 months in new French oak (whose influence it wears with aristocratic grace).
Art Series Chardonnay is never less than impressive but the full extent of its class and complexity only truly emerge with five years or more in the bottle, and it will continue to improve way beyond the ten-year mark.
The Art Series is so named for the beautiful works of art that adorn its labels, which are taken from canvases selected each year by Simone and her family. Art Series Shiraz bears the work always of an Australian First Nation artist. Only the Riesling’s striking frog label, painted by renowned Aussie artist John Olsen, is unchanged each vintage, though you will find up to four subtly different versions in every case.
As well as the Art Series and Prelude, the range includes the quite brilliant – and remarkably well priced – Siblings Shiraz and Sauvignon, the perfect introduction to Leeuwin Estate.
Leeuwin has spearheaded Margaret River’s ascent in just five decades, from obscurity to the top tier of global wine regions, but the wines continue to reach ever greater heights, thanks to the insight which comes with each passing vintage, and their unstinting pursuit of excellence.
