Canterbury Wines Phone 0398305278 or 0403020439 www.canterburywines.net
CHARDONNAY /2012 LEEUWIN ESTATE ART SERIES CHARDONNAY $94. 95
REGION: MARGARET RIVER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
“A very youthful bright green-quartz colour sets the scene for a riveting wine of exquisite purity and finesse. It almost floats in the mouth, so effortless is its invocation of all things chardonnay: white flowers, white stone fruits and immaculately balanced acidity. Oak? Well, yes it's there, but rendered mute by the fruit. Has greater staying power than any other Australian chardonnay. Screwcap. 14.0% alc.. Drink by: 2032.” James Halliday - 98 points
"From the first sniff of the marvelous mix of nougat and grapefruit, with subtle infusions of white peach, you just know this is something special. It is a more fruit-driven wine than the 2011, with a beautifully integrated palate striking such a perfect balance of oak and fruit. It’s finer, with an effortlessness about it, but with a depth and power that extends through to the very long finish. This is a wine that will live for many years." Ray Jordan – 98 points
"For lovers of chardonnay, Leeuwin Estate needs no introduction; it's a trailblazer. Compact with stone fruit, figs and citrus, fuller-bodied lots of layers and the perfect amalgamation of leesy characters, ripe fruit and acidity. A joy to drink." Jane Faulkner – 97 points
“Light yellow hue and a remarkably subtle, discreet (for Leeuwin) bouquet, with cashew and almond, lemon, grapefruit and spice, all very subtle, and a trace of honey. It's much more reserved than some vintages of this wine. Lovely finesse, line and length. A terrific wine which will only get better over the next few years. The fragrance haunts the empty glass. (100% new oak. No malo). Drink: 2015-2027.” Huon Hooke – 96 points
"Great to see Margaret River’s most recognized Chardonnay in such good form. This has all the power one associates with Leeuwin – with the 100% new oak being totally absorbed by the fruit – while the palate is textured, balanced and extremely long." Philip Rich, Decanter Magazine – 96 points
"Leeuwin Estate has released 33 Art Series Chardonnays since the 1980 initial vintage. They are unquestionably Australia’s most consistent great chardonnay producers over those decades, and the three most recent vintage releases, the 2010, 2011 and 2012, merely confirm that status. In the past 12 months, the 2011 Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay was awarded James Halliday’s Wine Companion Chardonnay of the Year. It was more recently selected as the number five wine in the American Wine Spectator’s (the world’s most influential commercially available wine magazine) Top 100 International Wines for 2014- which is based on price, quantity and quality. The 2010 vintage is even better drinking at the moment. The 2012 Leeuwin Estate Art Series has just been released. This wine has all of the great length of Australia’s finest white wines but is of a change of style in that it is leaner, less viscous and opulent and has slightly more beautiful balance and texturing, with high-quality fine-grained oak characters. It is of a higher-quality European style than the usually fuller Margaret River examples. Leeuwin Estate’s chardonnays consistently hit their best at eight to 12 years of age and then gradually improve for approximately eight to 10 years, so this wine will still be magnificent in 2030. Drink 2017-2030. The chardonnay’s great, lean and dry length, magnificent finish and after-taste ensure that it is another classic that is amongst Leeuwin’s eight to 10 greatest chardonnay releases. This immediately puts the wine amongst the top 20 Australian chardonnays ever made." John Jens, Western Suburbs Weekly – 18.9 points out of 20
Drink Now to 2030.
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