Museum Release Art Series Chardonnay

"Part hand, part machine-picked, part wile and part cultured yeast, matured for 11 months in new French oak. Incredibly youthful quartz-green colour; a great chardonnay, its intensity and length right up there with the best prior vintages; white peach and nectarine open the batting, pink grapefruit coming swiftly thereafter, creamy/nutty oak almost lost in the crowd. If this weren't enough, the aftertaste is a work of art, complete in itself."

"Art Series itself is just that – a work of art. It is the most consistently excellent Chardonnay in Australia and in 2014 this iconic wine is less forceful and domineering than in 2013 and there is already striking balance on display. With a perfect thread of acidity and freshness running the length of its spine, Art Series Chardonnay is a wine with uncommon finesse and it underlines just how great the 2014 vintage was for Margaret River and its top white wines. 2014 Art Series Chardonnay is my favourite release in a very long time and having given it 19.5s more regularly than I can count it is time to unleash a perfect 20/20 for this masterpiece. It is not only the top scoring white wine of this Report, it is the top wine of all."

"There have been many challengers to this great chardonnay, yet still it stands supreme as one of the finest in the land. This is a finer and more delicate example but one that still has the sustained power and deep intensity that distinguishes it. Pear and white peach aromas laced with a light touch of almond meal and grapefruit. Appears slightly more minerally and precise than some previous wines. Holds a very tight line through to the finish. Interesting style shift."

"One of Margaret River's (and Australia's) iconic Chardonnays, Leeuwin's 2014 Art Series Chardonnay continues that proud tradition. Never shy on toasty, nutty oak or bold fruit, the 2014 features both seamlessly woven together in perhaps greater harmony than in past vintages. Hints of white peach, Bosc pear and citrus appear on the medium-bodied palate and linger on the elegant, finely textured finish."

"It's thick with spicy cedar oak, yes, but you taste and swallow, and the length of flavour is just staggering. Oak, fruit power, and length is the Leeuwin formula, with bottle age the key to unlocking it. As at now there's clove spice, ginger and cedar oak, nashi pear, Tiny Teddies, melon and white flowers. It's full bodied, spicy and smooth, intense and quite flinty, with cool integrated acidity, and a startlingly long finish. Very much a classic Leeuwin here. Perhaps one of their best."

"Always a treasure. Always on point. A sublime expression. Chardonnay walking tall with poise. Although the oak is on the heavier side, the fruit refuses to be outdone. Struck match, hints of Jersey caramel, vanillin and almond meal rise up. Delicate white stone fruits and fig, a deft touch of citrus and a classic grapefruit acidity add polish. Slight ginger like spice shimmers through to a moreish and long finish. Length for days. A faultless balance of fruit, oak and acid from gate to post. Savour every drop. Drink now to ten years+."

“Limpid yellow-gold. A suave, highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh pear, peach and melon, along with suggestions of lemon pith, vanilla, honey and chalky minerals. Stains the palate with intense, oak-spiced orchard and citrus fruit flavors that pick up anise and floral nuances with aeration. Shows serious depth but comes off lithe and graceful, with a silky texture and a touch of back-end smokiness. The strikingly long finish emphatically echoes the mineral and floral notes and leaves a hint of buttered toast behind.”

"Beautifully nutty, toasty and savoury on the resplendent nose. The palate is textured and savoury with an amazing concentration of rich fruit with abundant balancing citrus acidity. Flavour builds on palate – amazing intensity. Won't struggle to find admirers."

"There's delicacy and finesse to the honeysuckle, peach and pear flavors in this white, but also plenty of power to the intensity and focus."