Leeuwin Art Series Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Product Information:

Erin Larkin from Wine Advocate praises the 2023 Art Series Sauvignon Blanc, noting, "2023 was a superb (I repeat, superb) vintage in Margaret River, and this is testament to the restraint of the season that birthed it. Lovely." This is not your ordinary Sauvignon Blanc, The artwork titled 'Detail' hints at the wine’s subtle complexities and distinctive character.

The nose is a captivating mesh of primary fruits - cut lime, pink grapefruit, and with lemon blossoms abuzz. It is bright and lifted with hints of cardamon and coriander seeds. The palate is fully charged with citrus, lemon sherbet, and charred limes. Beautiful textures here with subtle chamomile and cardamon spice woven in to keep things interesting. Amazing what Sauvignon Blanc can achieve in the right hands.

The grapes were crushed, pressed and the juice then cold settled. After settling, the juice was racked and inoculated with pure yeast cultures with 30% being fermented in one year old French oak barriques. This wine was matured in barrels for four months to age on lees, with fortnightly batonnage to build subtle texture and complexity. Following this short maturation period, the barrel fermented and matured components were then blended with the tank fermented wine, lightly fined, stabilised and bottled.

The Estate’s signature “Art Series” wines are dressed with artwork by leading Australian contemporary artists. The artwork for Leeuwin Art Series Sauvignon Blanc 2023 is by Roslyn Kean, entitled “Crossings 1 ‘Detail’”.

Maker:

Leeuwin Estate is a foundational pillar in Margaret River, is celebrated for their world-class wines. Founded by Denis and Tricia Horgan, the estate was guided by Napa Valley's the esteemed Robert Mondavi, who recognised its potential for premium wine production. With his mentorship, the Horgans transformed their humble cattle farm into a renowned vineyard. Planting began in 1974, and by 1979, Leeuwin Estate’s wines gained international acclaim almost immediately.

The 1981 “Art Series” Chardonnay earned high praise from Decanter Magazine, marking Leeuwin Estate’s entry onto the global stage. Today, under the care of three generations of the founding family, the estate continues to produce exceptional, site-expressive wines that are featured in top restaurants and wine merchants across 30 markets. 

Vineyard:

2023 was another exceptional Margaret River vintage. A long, warm and sunny summer encouraged the development of wonderfully ripe grape bunches. Winter of 2022 was typically rainy and windy. A prolonged mid-late Spring was cool, drizzly and cloudy. There was a rapid improvement in the weather in the second week November, paving the way for a continuous run of fine warm and sunny days through December to early April. A sunny fine flowering period ensured, first noted in the Chardonnay and Pinot in early November and complete by November 20. Summer provided a long and perfect run for the ripening grapes, with no heat spikes or thundery rain days. Daytime temperatures were a consistent 26 - 32C degrees. Atypically there was no Marri blossom this summer following the massive bloom in summer 2022. Subsequently, many nets were deployed to protect the harvest from birds. Sauvignon Blanc was harvested through mid-March.

Nose - White Strawberry, Green Apple, Burnt Lime
Gooseberry, kiwi fruit, green apple, cassis, white strawberry and juniper.

Palate - Grapefruit Juice/Lime Juice, Minerally Acid, Textured
In the mouth, the wine is concentrated, saline, textured and long.

Finish - Lemon Balm, Unctuous, Savoury
A persuasive finish that is brisk, sure, but also attractively oily and savoury.

I have to say I think this is the best Art Series savvy yet released. It combines the beautiful aromatic nuances evident immediately with a beautifully crafted textural palate. The palate is sublime with its rich intensity and centration of fruit lifted and revealed with a minerally acidity. That texture comes from 30% barrel fermentation in one-year-old French oak barriques and then four months fermentation in barrels. The blend of these with some tank fermented components has created an ideal expression of this variety. - Ray Jordan, WinePilot.com, 95 Points.

The 2023 Art Series Sauvignon Blanc leads with gooseberry, kiwi fruit, green apple, cassis (something jubey), white strawberry and juniper. In the mouth, the wine is concentrated, saline, textured and long. This is routinely an impressive wine, as it offers elegant drinking in the future as well as today. 2023 was a superb (I repeat, superb) vintage in Margaret River, and this is testament to the restraint of the season that birthed it. Lovely. - Erin Larkin, Robert Parker Wine Advocate, 94 Points.

The slip of texture, creaminess and nuttiness comes from its four months in used French oak barriques plus regular lees stirring. Add to that grapefruit/lemon/lime juice, fresh herbs and passionfruit too… well, it amounts to a lovely drink. Great with food or on its own. - Jane Faulkner, Halliday Wine Companion, 93 Points.

Good mid-weighted sauvignon that is not afraid to bare depth, intensity of flavor and texture. Good. Aromas of lemon balm, curry leaf and green and yellow plum, with a spurt of greengage across a persuasive finish that is brisk, sure, but also attractively oily and savory. Drink or hold. - Ned Goodwin MW, JamesSuckling.com, 92 Points.

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Sauvignon Blanc
Country - Australia
Region - Margaret River, Western Australia
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%
Closure - Screw Cap