2016 LEEUWIN ESTATE ART SERIES SHIRAZ
WINEMAKER: Tim Lovett
REGION: Margaret River, Western Australia
VARIETALS: Shiraz (93%), Malbec (5%), Viognier (1%)
MATURATION: 18 months in French oak barriques (40% new)
ANALYSIS: 14.0% alc/vol. | 7.22 g/L TA | 3.33 pH
VINTAGE: Winter and spring rainfall was well below average. Spring was generally fi ne with good conditions for fl owering through November. January and February temperatures were slightly above average, with only several non-concurrent hot days. A welcome, significant 90 mm of rain fell in January, setting up unirrigated vineyards for the remainder of the season. March and April temperatures were close to average; refl ected in the slowing down of ripening over mid/late vintage. One of the best all round vintages seen.
WINEMAKING: Fruit was fermented in both open and closed fermenters with 20% being whole bunches to enhance vibrancy and lift. Ferment vessels were plunged and pumped over daily and the wine run to new, one and two-year-old barrels for malolactic fermentation. The wine underwent malolactic in barrels and after six months, the various components were blended and matured in barrels for a further twelve months.
TASTING NOTES: An abundance of bursting blackcurrants, boysenberries and mulberries glide between sweet and toasted spices of black cardamom, cinnamon quill and nutmeg. Offset are perfumed notes of violets, anise, dark chocolate, camphor and Sichuan peppercorns. The palate is finely poised, yet with a generous mid palate weight. Vibrant and opulent black and blue fruits mesh with dried cranberries, caramel and cocoa notes. The tannins are tactile and structural providing direction and length.
CRITICAL ACCLAIM: 93 pts JamesSuckling.com, 91 pts Wine Spectator
ABOUT LEEUWIN: After an extensive search in 1972 for the most suitable premium viticultural area in Australia, Robert Mondavi singled out the future site of Leeuwin Estate. Thrust into the international spotlight when their 1980 Art Series was awarded Decanter’s highest recommendation, the Estate has since performed with stellar consistency, the Horgan family defending their position as one of Australia’s leading wineries.
After an extensive search in 1972 to identify the most suitable Australian area for the production of premium varietal wines, Robert Mondavi singled out a small plot of land in the Margaret River region. At the time a cattle farm, Leeuwin Estate evolved under the direction of owners Denis and Tricia Horgan, with Mondavi acting as consultant and mentor. The Estate was thrust into the international spotlight when Decanter magazine awarded their highest recommendation to the 1980 Art Series Chardonnay. Now under the direction of two generations of the founding family, the Estate is recognized as one of Australia's leading wine producers and wine tourism pioneers. Featured three times in the prestigious category of "International Winery of the Year" by U.S. Wine & Spirits magazine, Leeuwin Estate wines consistently rank alongside the world's finest.
