Brief TN - 2005 Leeuwin Estate Artist Series Chardonnay - Margaret River (under screw cap)

WINE TALK
#1

Tasted non-blind over dinner. Under screw cap. From what I understand, the bottle was decanted and put back to bottle before dinner.

First impression - slight petrol and citrus nose with great texture and acidity. Really interesting - but impossible to ‘place’ as distinctively Australian.

Tasted later in the evening and the petrol had taken a back seat to a more chalky/minerally element - wonderfully elegant and youthful with a finish that went on and on.

Impossible to know how this wine would have performed under cork, but for an 11 year old Chardonnay, I was quite impressed with the youthfulness and freshness of this wine, and would certainly look forward to trying more down the line to see the progression it takes.

Cheers.

#2

Sounds interesting. I wonder what the motivator for decanting it was. Foreknowledge or just thinking it is probably time for it to see some air.

Cheers,
Jason

#3

Larry, Ive had quite a few of this Chardonnay and loved all bottles from multiple vintages. The petrol notes have not been a part of the ones previously, including the 05 so I`m wondering if this was a bottles variation.

#4

The 2005 was a slightly bigger fatter style. The recent ones from 2010 onwards are more tighter and focussed.