2023 Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay

99 pts
Spectacular release of one of Australia's great white wines.

Price:
Sale price$150.00
Stock:
Re-stocking, ships in 2-5 business days
Rendering loop-subscriptions

Description

This is arguably Australia's most iconic Chardonnay. For decades, this Margaret River legend has been in a league of its own - a Grand Cru of the Southern Hemisphere, capable of standing alongside the world’s finest white wines. The 2023 release is one of the most decorated in recent memory, a near-perfect harvest at Leeuwin delivering power, complexity, and deft balance.

The fruit is hand-harvested, cooled, and partially whole-bunch pressed before undergoing 100% barrel fermentation in new French oak. Regular lees stirring builds texture and depth, and after 11 months in barrel, the wine is blended and bottled without compromise.

The nose is intense and layered - nashi pear, finger lime, and lemon curd, lifted by white florals, brioche, and sesame praline. The palate is pure and precise, unfolding with waves of nectarine, white peach, and citrus zest, laced with graphite minerality, gentle spice, and a fine chalky finish. The acidity is vibrant yet refined, giving the wine tension, length, and serious ageing potential.

A benchmark Australian Chardonnay, and, by the reviewers' reports, one that's destined to go down as one of the best ever from this prestigious address.

99 points
“This brilliant Chardonnay will surely come to be ranked, not only amongst the best ever from this legendary estate, not only among the best from this thrilling region, but among the best Australia has ever made. This is Grand Cru quality at what has sadly become Village pricing. A profound Chardonnay destined to become a bucketlist wine... Leeuwin have made some mindbogglingly good Chardonnays over the years, but I think none better.”
- Ken Gargett (Wine Pilot)

98 points
“A very powerful chardonnay, searingly intense and strongly structured, and needing more time yet to come into full harmony. Outstanding.”
- Huon Hooke (The Real Review)
97 points
“Power with precision. You can drink it now, sure, though ideally wait for all the components to mesh. It’s an outstanding release.”
- Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

99 points - “This brilliant Chardonnay will surely come to be ranked, not only amongst the best ever from this legendary estate, not only among the best from this thrilling region, but among the best Australia has ever made. This is Grand Cru quality at what has sadly become Village pricing. A profound Chardonnay destined to become a bucketlist wine. A very pale lemon with a vaguely green hint running through it, this is pristine, intense, beautifully balanced and seamless. The oak has almost been completely absorbed, although it is fair to say that it'll probably look even better in twelve months. The wine is, however, immensely enjoyable now. The nose reveals hints of apricot flesh, limes, citrus skins, oatmeal, Madagascan vanilla, gentle touches of grilled cashews, stonefruits and jasmine. Such intensity but meshed with freshness, energy and elegance. Powerful but poised, there is incredible length here, seemingly never-ending, with laser-sharp acidity just one of the many components. There is complexity already evident, although one suspects it is a shadow of what is to come. The intensity never wavers for an instant over the full journey. Stunning stuff, it will still be magnificent in twenty years, likely even more so, and still have life ahead of it. Leeuwin have made some mindbogglingly good Chardonnays over the years, but I think none better.” - Ken Gargett, (Wine Pilot)

98 points - “Light bright yellow, a very youthful colour for a 2023, and the bouquet is likewise fresh but also seriously detailed, with creamy lees, malt, nougat, beeswax and custard apple aromas, the palate similarly complex and profound, with a chew of oaky tannins that lingers on the aftertaste. Long, long carry. A very powerful chardonnay, searingly intense and strongly structured, and needing more time yet to come into full harmony. Outstanding.” - Huon Hooke (The Real Review)

97 points - “Lime and finger lime, Solo! (though ideally don’t slam it down fast), fresh pineapple, pear, plenty of clove and ginger oak, aniseed, a light flinty smokiness, honey cashew and white flower perfume. It’s medium-bodied, there’s a richness to fruit and oak here, yet it stays tight and controlled, with pitch-perfect acidity, a light chalkiness to texture, closing with superb length. Power with precision. You can drink it now, sure, though ideally wait for all the components to mesh. It’s an outstanding release.” - Gary Walsh (The Wine Front)

Concentrated and expressive, with aromas of pear, white peach, lime zest and delicate florals, layered with subtle vanilla and nutty complexity. The palate is refined and elegant, unfolding with fresh orchard fruit, seamless oak and a long, powerful finish with excellent ageing potential.

Intensely concentrated and lifted, the nose arrives with a rush, all fresh cut pear, white peach, ripe lime zest and pith, before jasmine, white florals and vanilla pods emerge, rounded out by cashew meal and toasted macadamia.

The palate builds and builds. Gentle, natural acidity is orbited by apple, pear, white nectarine and ripe citrus, all showing their own persistence and drive, but never supplanting the wine’s overarching elegance - the completely integrated oak and delicate, layered texture serve to subtly, quietly hem in the fruit characters as they fan out. Profoundly powerful and immensely long, this is a wine of distinction with a remarkable life ahead.

Price Bracket $101 and Above
Type White
Body Full Bodied
Variety Chardonnay
Country Australia
Region Margaret River
Australian State WA
Feature High Score
Iconic
Reviewed By The Wine Front
The Real Review
Wine Pilot
Critic Score 99
Alcohol 13.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Leeuwin Estate

What was once a humble cattle farm in Margaret River has now become one of the most iconic wine producing estates in Australia.

A special site identified by iconic Napa Valley winemaker, Robert Mondavi in 1972, Denis and Tricia Horgan took his advise and planted vineyards with the dream of becoming a world-class producer of premium wine.

Leeuwin Estate's first commercial release was in 1979. Now family owned for two generations, theirs is one of the brightest stars in Australian wine. Their iconic Art Series range is now one of the most collectable in the country.

They are celebrated around the world as one of the finest producers of Chardonnay in particular to be found anywhere on the planet.

The Horgan family - Margaret River, WA

Others also liked

Recently viewed

Common Questions

Delivery is free on orders of $199 or more.

For orders under this amount, delivery is calculated at checkout based on your postcode. You can order in any quantity or combination of wines you like. Straight dozens are not required.

We will dispatch your order the same or next business day.

Estimated delivery transit time varies depending on your location. Please review this page for specific estimates.

No sorry we do not have a store front and pickup is not available.

Yes, no problem. When placing your order select ‘Store at Different Drop and Delivery Later’ as your shipping method or reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order with additional instructions.

We stock three different sized gift boxes (single, three bottle and six), all are available for purchase for a flat rate of $8. They look great and make an awesome impression.

To add a gift box to your order, simply add at checkout. The special requests box is your friend, please give us as many details of what you are looking for and we will try our best, or get in contact to discuss it with you. 

If you want to bulk order gifts or if you have any trouble please email hello@differentdrop.com or call and we can try and help.

 

Our warehouse is automated so unless you tell us otherwise, we will ship your order. If you would like us to hold your order please reply to the order confirmation email after placing your order and we are happy to store your order for up to 6 months at no charge. You can review our heat policy here.

Yes, of course. We want Different Drop customers to always be getting the best price. You can see our price match policy here.

No, feel free to mix it up! There is no minimum requirement. You can order wines in any quantity or combination, 1 or 50+ bottles.

No, all prices are set at the full discounted dozen rate already.

If you can't add more wine to your cart it means we are low on stock of that wine. For example, if you are only able to 3 bottles and no more that means we only have 3 bottles left of that wine. If it's a must have, please contact us and we may be able to order more in for you.

Regular Enquiries

Urgent Enquiries

02 8376 8775