2020 Art Series Chardonnay, Leeuwin Estate

Recent releases of Art Series Chardonnay have set a ludicrously high bar, and there’s certainly no let up with the 2020. Esteemed Aussie critic Ray Jordan has written, ‘It would not surprise me if this was considered the greatest Leeuwin Chardonnay yet.’ It’s a flawless wine. 2020 enjoyed a moderate to warm growing season with an earlier harvest than ’19 or ’21, but the grapes were notable for their low pH i.e. high acidity. There’s incredible concentration and weight of ripe stone and citrus fruit on the palate. It wears its 100% new oak effortlessly. Most striking perhaps is this wine’s persistence – count the seconds, turning to minutes as its saline finish plays out. Throw all the superlatives you like at the 2020 Art Series Chardonnay, but really its present stage provides only a glimpse into the magic still to come. Drink 2026-2040