While Leeuwin Estate’s red wines remain a step behind the whites, the 2005 Art Series Shiraz is first-class. Purple-colored, it exhibits an expressive nose of cedar, spice box, leather, black cherry, and plum. Medium-bodied, smooth-textured, and ripe, it has excellent grip and depth, some early complexity, and solid length. Give it 2-3 years of additional cellaring and drink it from 2010 to 2108.
Leeuwin Estate is one of the benchmark wineries of Western Australia. Both reds and whites exhibit cool climate character and European elegance.
Importer: Gavin Speight, Old Bridge Cellars, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 258-9552