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2006 Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay
Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Colour is straw green, bright and almost luminous.
This wine displays lifted pristine Margaret River Chardonnay fruit typical of the Leeuwin vineyard.
The well integrated bouquet has ripe pear skin, figs, and nutty cashews. The subtle integration of French oak provides vanilla notes to this perfumed Chardonnay. Medium in weight, due to the cool ripening period the wine displays deceptive length and mouth filling structure.
The palate shows fresh and vibrant pears, tangy grapefruit and peaches, with the balanced citrus acid giving the wine a delicious elegance and youthfulness.
An excellent vintage for Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay, this wine will lend itself to cellaring for a number of years.
Comments
"88 points - An honest, early-drinking chardonnay whose delicate, floral and slightly meaty aromas of primary citrusy fruit and creamy, buttery oak reveal herbal undertones. It's round and juicy, with slightly candied flavours of pineapple and grapefruit backed by fresh dusty vanilla oak, finishing with clean acids and herbaceous, confectionery nuances."
Jeremy Oliver, the Australian Wine Annual, 2009"Plenty of richness and ripeness here in the baby Leeuwin Chardonnay. Figs and stone fruits, cut pneapple, quite opulent with a line of cooler restraint running below. The oak isn't too punchy. Supple smooth palate, rich tropical and stone fruit flavours, figs through the back, balanced and approachable."
WBM 100, September 2008"Light gold. Fresh lime and grapefruit aromas are deepened by smoky lees, butter and hazelnut. Firm and sharply focused, offering a vivacious set of citrus flavors along with green apple and chamomile (this did not go through malo). Finishes with very good grip and persistence. I'd decant this if I were opening it anytime soon as it gained weight and flesh in the open bottle. 90"
Josh Raynold, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - New Releases from Australia, Part 1, July 2008"You might be forgiven for thinking of Prelude as a "poor-man's Art Series" (read on) but in fact it's a good deal more than half the wine for a third of the price. Save the big boy for the next time you're entertaining royalty (or tricky in-laws), or finish the bottle in the kitchen before your guests arrive (hee hee) and then serve Prelude when they rock up. Either way, bathe yourself in this stunning wine's grapefruit blossom, fresh lemons and mellifluous texture."
Taste Food & Wine, The Best Wines of 2008, Matthew Jukes & Tyson Stelzer"18.5 points - Much more primal than the Art Series but nonetheless impressive for that: lively aromatics, ripe, sweet fruit gives great mouthfeel, with deep and long flavours."
Sunday Times STM Magazine, Peter Forestal's Top 100 Summer Wines, November 2007"The 2006 Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay is straw green in colour and this bright, luminous wine displays aromas of ripe pear, freshly pickled figs and cashew on the nose. The palate shows tangy pears, white peach and a subtle hint of French oak. Drink now for a full-bodied white wine or cellar up to five years. Star rating 3.9."
Henry Livingstone, MX (Melbourne), 6th September 2007"Leeuwin Estate 2006 Chardonnay Margaret River Prelude Vineyards ($30). Aromatic stonefruit and fig flavors are accented with nutty vanilla, tangy citrus and cream notes that fold together on a long, fresh but complex finish. Delicious now and over the next five-plus years."
WineSkinny.com Online Review, April 2008"Expressive aromas of ripe pears and grapefruits with some creamy character from the French oak. Vibrant acidity with lots of ripe but elegant white fruits. Well-balanced structure with a long finish."
Decanetr Magazine, 20th February 2009"Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay 2006 ($35). This is an outstanding chardonnay from the Margaret River region of Australia. Generous pear and peach flavors and sweet vanillin oak. It has vibrance and complexity - a full-body wine to serve with fish or fowl."
Hometown Annapolis Capital, Tom Marquardt, September 2009Printer-friendly version »
