Leeuwin Estate Art Series Shiraz 2023

Tasting Notes

🔹 Appearance: Deep, dark red with a vibrant youthful edge.

🔹 Aroma: The nose is rich and inviting with aromas of dark cherries, blueberries, mulberries, and currants. Floral notes of violets and lavender sit alongside subtle spice from black cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise. There’s a layer of complexity from cedar, black pepper, and chalk.

🔹 Palate: The wine is vibrant with fresh acidity running through concentrated flavours of boysenberries, cherries, and currants. The mid-palate reveals impressive dimension, leading to silky tannins that linger gracefully. The finish is long, structured, and satisfying.

Perfect Pairings

This Shiraz pairs beautifully with:

🔹 Roasted Lamb – The richness of lamb complements the wine’s bold structure.

🔹 Beef Tenderloin – The wine’s complexity elevates the depth of the meat.

🔹 Grilled Game Meats – The wine’s tannin structure works perfectly with savoury, gamey flavours.

🔹 Aged Cheddar or Blue Cheeses – The bold fruit and spice notes in the wine shine with these cheeses.

Accolades 🏆

• Region: Margaret River, Western Australia
• Vintage: 2023
• Type: Red Wine
• Variety: Shiraz
• Alcohol: 14% ABV
• Closure: Screw Cap

Vintage

The 2023 vintage in Margaret River was shaped by a cool spring and dry summer, followed by a long, even ripening period, ideal for crafting elegant, finely structured reds. Leeuwin Estate’s Art Series Shiraz 2023 is a standout, offering vibrant aromatics of blackberry pastille, plum, raspberry, black pepper, dried violets and a touch of saline minerality. Beautifully balanced with fine, melting tannins and precise focus, it’s a refined expression of Shiraz from a consistently excellent vintage in the region.

Serving Temperature

🔹 Ideal Serving Temperature: 16–18°C
Allow the wine to breathe in a large-bowl glass or decant before serving for optimal enjoyment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 🤔

❓How does this Shiraz compare to others from Margaret River?
This Shiraz stands out for its balance, structure, and layered complexity, making it one of the best expressions of the region’s terroir.

❓Can this wine be enjoyed immediately?
Yes! The wine is already quite approachable with its vibrant fruit and silky tannins. However, it will also age beautifully over the next 10–15 years.

❓What is the best way to store this wine?
Store it horizontally in a cool, dark place with a consistent temperature of 12–14°C to ensure optimal ageing.

❓What does ‘acidity’ in wine mean?
Acidity refers to the fresh, crisp sensation you get from a wine. It helps balance sweetness and gives the wine a refreshing quality, making it taste vibrant. Think of how lemon juice feels when you taste it – that’s the type of “fresh” acidity wine can have.

❓What are ‘tannins’ and why are they important?
Tannins are natural compounds found in grape skins, seeds, and stems. They give the wine its structure and can make your mouth feel dry. Tannins add complexity to a wine and are what help it age well. For example, red wines like Shiraz have higher tannins compared to white wines.

❓What is the ‘finish’ of a wine?
The finish is how long the flavours last after you’ve swallowed the wine. A long finish means the flavours linger, often evolving into more complexity, while a short finish might fade away quickly. This Shiraz has a long, satisfying finish, leaving you with a lingering taste of fruit and spice.

❓What is the role of oak in wine?
Oak aging adds flavours like vanilla, toast, and spices, while also softening the tannins and adding texture to the wine. In this Shiraz, the oak adds depth and structure, enhancing the overall flavour profile without overpowering it.