Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

“Saturated ruby. Smoke- and spice-accented red and blue fruits, rose pastille, vanilla and cured tobacco on the highly expressive nose. Palate-staining flavors of ripe cherry, black currant and fruitcake are supported and sharpened by an undercurrent of smoky minerality. Puts on weight with air and finishes appealingly sweet and extremely long, displaying resonating cherry and floral notes and supple, slow-building tannins. Drinking window: 2025-2035. 95 points

Tricia and Denis Horgan established the iconic Leeuwin Estate in 1973, making it one of Margaret River’s pioneering producers and, for decades now, one of Australia’s most respected. The Art Series bottlings, especially the Chardonnay, are long-time collectibles in the national market and beyond, having developed a solid reputation for age-worthiness. With over 120 hectares of vines, Leeuwin is a major player in the region and enjoying world-wide distribution, making them among the easiest high-end Margaret River wines to source. The Art Series Riesling delivers outstanding value, as does the Shiraz, which shows a distinctly cool and restrained character, quite unlike the Australian stereotype.”

Josh Raynolds, Vinous (07/21)