Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2006 (Margaret River, WA)
$80, Screwcap, 14.5%
Source: Retail
www.leeuwinestate.com.au

Australia’s finest Chardonnay? It’s certainly hard to argue with the results. Top vintage this one too.

Classic Leeuwin nose – big, warm and uncompromisingly full. Spicy french oak, grilled nuts, plenty of french oak, lots of flavour. With air time it all integrates together, but it takes some time. Palate too is a massive slab of flavour, with whipped butter, vanilla bean, peach skins and nutty oak.

It’s a beast of a wine, no question, with layers of flavour, finishing dry, clean and very long, with the only distraction being a wallop of alcohol heat to finish. But it’s also a seriously fine beast of a wine, with so much intensity, conviction and layers of flavour that it’s hard to put down, in every sense of the word. What’s more, this is one Chardonnay that will only get better with bottle age, particularly under screwcap. I’d argue that another 3 years bottle age is almost essential for it to start showing us all it’s goodies, or a decent decant in the meantime.

Another winning Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay. 18.5/94