2020 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

Deep red with a good tint of purple in the rim, the bouquet showing tobacco/cedar, nori/briar and peaty/iodine-like nuances. It's full-bodied and powerful, with lavish tannins, bright acidity and good concetration. Redcurrant and blackberry—red and black fruits both evident. A very smart and ageworthy cabernet. 30 NOV 2023 Drink 2023–2042

97 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

An elegant, classy wine and irresistible as a result. Perfectly composed flavours of cassis and currants, woodsy spices and leafy freshness with a lift of oak, all as one here. Beautiful fine tannins glide across the medium-bodied palate, the equally fine acidity cleansing and invigorating, and it finishes long and very pure. Gosh, this is excellent.

96 points  Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

The Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River is one of Western Australia’s most refined reds, crafted with the same meticulous care that has made the Art Series Chardonnay an international icon. Leeuwin Estate was established in the 1970s under the guidance of Napa Valley legend Robert Mondavi, who recognised Margaret River’s Bordeaux-like climate as perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, winemaker Tim Lovett oversees the range, with the Art Series Cabernet drawn from the estate’s oldest and best vineyard blocks in the Wilyabrup subregion, where gravelly loam soils, ocean breezes and a long, cool ripening season produce fruit of remarkable intensity and finesse.

In the glass, the Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon shows deep garnet with crimson highlights. The bouquet is elegant and layered, offering cassis, blackberry, mulberry and black cherry interwoven with cedar, tobacco leaf, bay leaf and graphite. Subtle oak adds hints of dark chocolate and spice without overwhelming the fruit. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, structured by fine, powdery tannins and bright acidity. Blackcurrant, plum and savoury herb flavours build across the palate, leading to a long, persistent finish with a mineral edge. It’s a wine that marries power with restraint, true to Margaret River’s hallmark style.

Food pairings are naturally aligned with classic Cabernet dishes: roast lamb with garlic and rosemary, slow-braised beef short ribs, venison backstrap with juniper, or aged cheddar and Comté. With 15 to 20 years of cellaring potential, this wine will evolve beautifully, gaining notes of cigar box, leather and dried herbs while maintaining fruit purity.

Critics consistently place the Art Series Cabernet among Margaret River’s finest, often awarding scores in the 95–98 range. It has collected trophies and gold medals at domestic and international shows, praised for its precision, age-worthiness and understated power. While overshadowed at times by its Chardonnay sibling, the Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon is every bit as world-class and represents exceptional value in fine Australian Cabernet.