Leeuwin Estate

When a Leeuwin Estate Art Series wine came top of a Decanter blind tasting of global Chardonnays in 1981, it sent shock waves round the wine world. Margaret River was still a young wine region at the time and the vineyards at Leeuwin (founded as it was in 1973) had only produced a handful of vintages. But it was clear even then that this was a very special place for wine – particularly Chardonnay.

Sandy, loamy soils, laid over ancient undulating granite bedrock provide the perfect combination of drainage, water retention and low vigour. Proximity to the ocean, with its strong, cooling breezes, yield slow-ripening, complex flavours and a natural zesty lift to the wine. Asked to describe the house style, senior winemaker Tim Lovett says ‘It’s about purity of fruit, combined with a really tight, mineral acid structure.’

The whole Leeuwin range - Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon – is impressive. But the Chardonnays still stand out. The Prelude and Sibling ranges are great value, while for many observers the Art Series Chardonnay – saline, expressive, long-lived – is one of the best, if not the best, examples of the variety in Australia.