2002 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series- Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River (1/31/2012)
Almost done with a case purchased around release…some duds…but for the most part, killer bottles! This one is another killer bottle! Brilliant yellow, green metallic color…wonderful nose of lemons, stones, buttered honeycomb, grilled pineapple with caramel. Fresh and crisp as can be in the mouth…loaded with tropical fruits, as well as citrusy lemon, and sweet grapefruit. Lots of crushed minerals…salted caramel, exotic wood…but very bright and alive. Still some bitters on the finish…but all in all, drinking absolutely wonderful right now! A Coche-Dury down under! (95 pts.)
2000 Leeuwin Estate Shiraz Art Series- Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River (1/31/2012)
A little tingle at first…lighter blackberry, plum, dark cherry fruit…still young tasting, yet thin. Some pretty intriguing leather and tar, smoked meat, cherry liqueur, cracked pepper…as well as a some pretty florals ala viognier in Cote Rotie. Seems to have a good dose of acid in this…more so than sweet fruit…so the mouthfeel isn’t the best balance…but I like the flavors in this…and for 12yrs old…doing quite well. Nice pairing with the 2002 Leeuwin Art Chard! (89 pts.)
I was holding on to a 750 and a magnum of the 2001. A few weeks ago I opened the 750 intending to save the mag for a couple of more years. The 750 was very clean and refreshing but almost Chablis-like in its surface charm without New World depth (I love Chablis so no flames please). But I wondered if maybe it needed another hour air. Thinking it might be OTH (delicious but toned way down) I brought the magnum to a lobster feast this weekend. Oops. Spectacular and with some unexpected seaside aromas and nutty flavors that went perfectly with the food.
Yea…I’m almost done with my '01’s as well…some bottle variations also…some seem to be more advanced…others out of this world!
I have not had one of these Chards under screw cap yet…but that will be BRILLIANT for this wine!
Here was my last '01…
2001 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series- Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River (8/18/2011)
Last had one of these a year ago…and after a bad bottle previously 3 yrs earlier…closer to the epiphany from the first bottle in '05. Well, this is bottle #5, and it is somewhere between the last two. More advanced than I would think, but not overly so. Rich and creamy tropical and pitted fruit, ripe and aged, but has a good dose of citrus acidity to freshen. Aged and rich flavors of hot buttered rum, exotic spice, butterscotch, grilled peach drizzled with honey. Slight sherry nuttiness…but also pretty good kick of acid, and minerals to it. Not as soured as the off bottle…and not as exotically spiced as it can be. Still very tasty, love the tropical fruits and the butter rum spice…just a little more advanced than I would like it. Will be interesting to see what a mag of this that I have does? (93 pts.)
I prefer the recent vintages where they have married depth and restraint. I had 2008 reserve Chardonnay on the flight last night and it was stunning.
(There was also a 2004 Penfolds RWT shiraz served. Whilst, I am not a great fan of that wine (and some other extracted Penfolds wines) I must say that the RWT appeared well made within its style.)
I also agree. I haven’t had the '02, but I have had some great experiences with the '01 at different stages of its evolution (with a little variation, as has been pointed out). I wish the price of the wine (current vintage) didn’t skyrocket as it did, but really, it’s still worth the money even now. I don’t really buy it anymore, but I should probably get over that and at least get 1 or 2 each year.
Four or five years ago, whilst checking on their Museum stocks (if I remember the story correctly), they were amazed at the high incidence of not just oxidation, but also of cork taint under cork, so decided to re-bottle everything that was still OK under stelvin.
They then moved the wines to screw cap, I think this was first seen in the '05…
Nice to see someone is taking this issue seriously, something many burgundian makers could well benefit from…
yeah, the 02 chardonnay is spectacular. i’m with those who claim this is up there with the best new world chardonnay. the cabernets are great too. in 2009 i did a tasting with all sorts of bordeaux, CA and WA cabs, blind, and the 04 and 02 leeuwin art series cabs came out on top.