Latest reviews

Swan Valley

Verdelho

Liqueur verdelho is one of the remarkable wines of the Swan Valley. It also shows the extraordinary versatility of a variety that can on the one hand be fresh and fruity and on the other – well, this. A rich and unctuous fortified wine of breathtaking depth and richness. Layer upon layer of toffee, honeycomb and rich raisin fruit. The...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A more elegant, finer version, certainly compared to the previous year. This is a cabernet sauvignon dominant blend with about 4% malbec and a smidgeon of cabernet franc. The key in this cooler year was to strike the balance of oak and fruit with those supporting tannins sitting there. It’s been achieved with ease and the result is wine of...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

The brightness of this cooler vintage is evident immediately on the nose. Lifted dark fruit with a little black olive and bay leaf infusion burst out. It’s a blend of largely cabernet with small contributions of malbec, merlot and cabernet franc. An elegantly framed wine of effortless style. The palate is sublimely integrated with the bright fruit given some nice...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

Flavoursome medium bodied cabernet blend displaying the fruit generosity of this vintage. Ripe blackcurrant and mulberry aromas with a little savoury plummy character edging in. The palate is packed with ripe black fruit and a little red fruit lift. Subtle leaf and seashell minerally play their role in a smoothly finished young wine.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is a delightful young chardonnay designed for drinking in the shorter term. It was made fairly simply with no additions and then matured in oak for nine months. The aroma of light lemon and melon with a subtle spicy turmeric complexity show immediately. The light-bodied palate has excellent fruit expression with the oak supporting it neatly. Nice modern tyle.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

This outstanding cabernet comes from some of the oldest vines in Margaret River. It was an excellent vintage, and this is a classy example of it. The nose is invading. Notes of deep blackcurrant and black olive with nuances of spicy plum and dark chocolate. The palate is an awesome display of Margaret River firepower. Intense and concentrated yet with...

Margaret River

Shiraz

This is a real powerhouse shiraz from this very good vintage in Margaret River. A basically traditional winemaking approach was adopted before the wine was matured in oak. Powerful aromas of coffee and dark plum with a licorice mocha and spicy thing happening. The palate is super concentrated with rich dark fruit flavours lifted with a little roasted coffee, mocha...

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This is the result after barrel selection of handpicking, whole bunch pressing and wild yeast oak fermentation. It is a wine of richness and elegance, and of course the power of the Gingin clone in Margaret River is clearly evident. Notes of butterscotch and lemon with a little varietal grapefruit on the nose. The palate is rich and deeply textured...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A vintage that produced wines of elegance and style, and this generously texture full bodied wine is a classic example. Leafy blackcurrant and black olive aromas with a little bay leaf and light graphite. The palate is beautifully poised and controlled with fine-grained oak and fine chalky tannins working harmoniously. Black fruits emerge throughout. That graphite edge follows the palate...

Margaret River

Shiraz

I can’t recall a better wine under this label. It is a beauty. Must have been fun trying to pick during Covid, but when you get a result like this it all becomes worthwhile. The nose is complex – seriously. Spicy notes of clove and light cocoa with a blackberry fruitiness pervading. The palate is beautifully integrated with the oak...

Swan Valley

Shiraz

The aim of this wine when it was introduced a few years ago, was to capture the essence of place in the Swan Valley. This is as good as any and certainly speaks to its site and the old vines planted back in the 60s. A pretty fundamental approach with natural yeasts and open fermentation before maturation in seasoned French...

Swan Valley

Chenin Blanc

A variety that was fully tested in this hot year and yet once again has shown its ability to perform in warmer years in the Swan Valley. It’s from old vines and was fermented in oak and tank before being brought together. There’s a delightful spicy citrus character here rather than the usual varietal tropical fruits. The palate is already...

Swan Valley

Verdelho

It was as hot as Hades in the Swan Valley in this vintage, and yet here is a verdelho displaying delicacy and crisp freshness, totally belying the season. It was fermented in stainless steel but then the time on lees has introduced that palate complexity while maintaining its vibrancy and life.

Margaret River

Verdelho

A light bodied yet flavoursome and most appealing verdelho from some pretty old vines down at Margaret River. Light tropical notes on the nose flow into a crunchy palate that finishes crisp and dry. Has a refreshing lively acid lick on the finish.

Margaret River

Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

A crunchy and lively little blend from Margaret River. Aromas of slightly subdued tropical passionfruit and melon with a little spice. The palate is fruity with a fine controlling acidity keeping it crisp and linear. A wine for drinking in the next couple of years.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

The potential here is almost unlimited. In fact, it may well become the best Leeuwin cabernet yet. It's a stylish and brilliant expression of variety, location and vintage. Perfumed red and black fruits with a violet lift. Just a trace of bay leaf and a little seashell minerality. The palate is elegantly structured but there are firm fine bony tannins...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Captures the cooler vintage and the southern vineyard impact, presenting an elegant and most stylish cabernet expression. Leafy blackcurrant aromas with plummy blackberry influences. The palate is smooth and seamlessly structured with fine tannins and fine-grained oak in support. So well balanced with a very long palate.

Margaret River

Shiraz

In many ways a breakthrough wine for Leeuwin and a clear marker of where they have been heading with this variety. As with the Siblings a small amount of malbec has been added along with the spicy and textural impact from a little viognier. It’s so delightfully poised and presented with its pretty and perfumed aromas opening with a plummy...

Margaret River

Shiraz

A neatly crafted medium bodied shiraz that has a tiny percentage of malbec. It’s bright as a button with lifted berry fruits displaying a light dusting of spices and a little savoury influence. The palate is smooth and seamlessly brought together with the fruit pretty and delicious. Nice earlier drinking wine.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

There would be a lot of wineries who would love to have this as their top chardonnay. But of course, Leeuwin has that little matter of Art Series above it. This really is one of the best and most complete of this line. Seems to have struck a nice balance between the early more opulent styles and some of the...

Margaret River

Sparkling

Leeuwin Estate was one of the first in Margaret River to dabble in sparkling wine and I have to say it tends to slide under the radar with all the focus on its chardonnay and emerging reds. This is a blend of chardonnay and pinot noir displaying a creamy generous texture but then the lees and crisp acid tightens it...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A consistently strong performer, especially with their reds. This is a terrific wine from the exceptional 23 vintage. Shows the rich opulence of the vintage with the firm thread of dark fruits and firm minerally tannins of the region. Cleverly managed oak and fine firmish tannins hold the core together to a long finish. Perfectly balanced.

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

A bit of Bordeaux and a bit of Hermitage all comes together in this mighty powerful expression of the region. It’s a substantial wine loaded with deep dark secrets, which with a little prodding reveal intense liqueur cherry, blackcurrant and layers of chocolate and mulberry. Aromas of bay leaf and graphite emerge with a cedary addition. The palate is drive...

Margaret River

Shiraz Blend

Does the old heart good to see this combination of shiraz and cabernet work its magic. First indications of what we have are the aromas of mulberry and spicy plum with a trace of brick dust and chocolate. Then the palate releases with its concentrated intensity. Grainy palate seems to be a vineyard thing with the fine-grained oak and fine...

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

An elegant and stylish blend of cabernet and merlot from this cooler Margaret River vintage. Lifted perfumes of red berry and bay leaf with edgier notes of black olive. This is still a tightly held wine with fine firm tannins and fine-grained oak supporting the fruit with its minerally subtle oyster shell characters. It’s a wine under wraps that needs...

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

An elegant and polish cabernet from this southern part of Margaret River. The perfumed notes of blackcurrant, blue fruits and light cedar merging with a rich dark chocolate are engaging. The palate is firm with assertive fine tannins and supporting oak. Has a grainy, slightly chalky ironstone finish that appeals.

Margaret River

Shiraz

I’ve watched closely this wine over many years, and it has to be the best yet. Lifted scented notes of plum and spicy mulberry with a subtle liqueur cherry nuance. It strikes that balance between elegance and style, and concentration and power. It has a grainy slightly gravelly textural influence with chalky supportive tannins. Outstanding.

Margaret River

Cabernet Blend

A succulent and rather delicious red blend displaying really attractive fruit emerging from the combination of cabernet and merlot. Perfumes of red berry, savoury plum and a little charcuterie emerge. The palate is neatly integrated with chalky tannin and fine-grained oak partnering the fruit. Really lively and vibrant. Just beautiful palate features.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

Lovey medium bodied and highly fragrant cabernet from this generous vintage. Tea roams immediately assail with blackcurrant over bright liqueur cherry and some nice plummy blackberry. Stylish and elegantly structured palate delivering with medium body to a long finish. Totally seamless plate. Excellent.

Margaret River

Shiraz

Beautifully presented shiraz displaying how this variety can work in the right area, especially down south of Margaret River town. Savoury plummy notes on the nose with florals and a little dried herb influence. A gentle and flaoursome medium bodied palate of bright red fruit supported with chalky tannins and a sliver of oak.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

A pretty and perfumed chardonnay of good flavour intensity and precision. Aromas of fig and melon with a racy lemon zest. The palate reveals the distinctive varietal cut lime and tart melon characters with some understated creamy oak. A slightly saline minerality completes the wine.

Margaret River

Cabernet Sauvignon

A powerful and intense cabernet sourced from original dry-grown vines that are now more than 50 years old. Concentrated notes of leafy blackcurrant and a chocolate and bay leaf addition. Seamlessly and smoothly textured palate with a minerally seashell thread revealing a touch of graphite. This is a mighty good wine for the price. So bright and alive.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

An attractive light-bodied chardonnay. It is predominantly from the Gingin clone and off the southern Karridale vineyard. For a wine of this price a fair amount of winemaking involvement has delivered a classy little wine. Lemon vanillin characters emerge with a slightly saline minerality to finish.

Mount Barker

Nebbiolo

One of the trickier varieties to produce in Australia, with the tannin balance and management the key. In this case it’s been expertly handled. Typical red fruits on the nose with the raspberry, rose petal and strawberry nuances capturing the variety. The palate is light in colour but there is plenty of engine room grunt here as it drives to...

Mount Barker

Pinot Noir

Such a pretty, yet powerful statement of Mount Barker pinot. It is clearly as good as any yet from 3 Drops, with the season providing the ideal base for its creation. Aromas of dark cherry and a perfumed strawberry nuance with an array of spices adding allure. The palate captures the variety. There is a soft plushness here, yet there...

Mount Barker

Cabernet Franc

A variety that works well in cooler regions, but still needs to be ripe, which in this season wasn’t a problem. The perfumed red fruits of raspberry and mulberry with a little violet scent working in are just beautiful. The palate is a striking feature. It has structure and poise but with a typical varietal elegance. One of the better...

Mount Barker

Chardonnay

A beautifully fragrant and delightfully presented chardonnay from this excellent season. The nose is a merging of vanilla bean and lemon curd with a light nectarine-like influence. The palate is so well balanced with a fine precise feel. Just a little light toast adds to the finish.

Margaret River

Chardonnay

This single vineyard chardonnay is the best and most sophisticated of any yet released by Grace Farm. It’s all Gingin clone which was whole bunch pressed to new and used barriques with solids allowed to influence texture and aromas. Aromas of lemon curd and quince with lightly roasted cashew and a hint of turmeric. The palate is linear, with a...

Margaret River

Malbec

What a thoroughly beautiful example of a pure varietal malbec from Margaret River. This is from a small block on Carter Road and displays all the characters of this variety, with a subtlety and finesse not normally seen. Bright red fruits revealing slightly jubey rhubarb character with some nice darker touches on the nose. The palate is supremely balanced with...

Margaret River

Red Blend

Cabernet is the dominant variety here, but the rest make important contributions to both the perfumed aromas and the depth and structure of the palate. It was a year producing excellent fruit quality, which is captured by the intense aromas of blackcurrant and dark chocolate with a fragrant lift of bay leaf. The palate is super concentrated with firm minerally...