2006 Art Series Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Last vintage with any malolactic conversion. Deep greenish gold. Mellow and ready on the nose. Vegy undertow. Still in good shape with good fruit/acid balance. More informed by the (exceptionally cool) vintage than the vineyard apparently. Hint of menthol. Dry end. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2006 Art Series Chardonnay spent 12 months in new French oak with 10% of the wine going through malolactic fermentation. Medium straw-colored, it offers up a superb perfume of pain grille, biscotti, baked apple, poached pear, and tropical notes. Creamy textured, elegant, and concentrated, this savory Chardonnay will evolve for several years and drink well through 2016. Leeuwin Estate is one of the icon wineries of Western Australia and their Artist Series Chardonnay is an annual contender for Australia’s best. Importer: Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA; www.oldbridgecellars.com
Alcohol on the nose. Easy, smooth. Sweet start. Then very jagged acid. Hard work! [This of course is one of Australia's most famous Chardonnay icons and I was surprised that it didn't show better.] (JR)
Some skin contact, inoculated with yeast. Barrel fermented in 100% new oak. Heavy bâtonnage – every two to three weeks. 11 months in new oak. Always picks at more than 13.5%. pH 3.39, TA 6.8 g/l The most floral so far and some classic Margaret River dried-pear flavour but also a little spirity on the nose. Hot on the palate too. More power and vinosity, quite savoury, very leesy. But for me the alcoholic heat detracts, hence the minus. (JH)
About the producer
Leeuwin Estate is one of Australia’s leading wine producers. Based close to Cape Leeuwin, in the southern reaches of Margaret River, Western Australia, this remote estate is best known for its Art Series wines.