2021 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River

Light straw colour with a reserved lemon/grapefruit aroma, fresh and penetrating, the palate brisk and bright with vibrant acidity and intense grapefruit/lemon flavours that persist the full length of the very long palate. Superb vitality and balance. It promises to reward cellaring too. Tremendously concentrated and compact, with extreme drive and massive persistence, it positively vibrates with energy. Very cellarworthy, too. 04 JAN 2024 Drink 2024–2036

98 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com #1 of 117 2021 Chardonnay from Margaret River

There’s always an anticipation when a new vintage arrives. This doesn’t disappoint – it’s archetypal Art Series: powerful, rich and layered with flavour from stone fruit, pink grapefruit and Meyer lemon to a touch of mandarin. The palate builds with creamy lees, oak spice and some phenolics – the oak is superbly integrated, and pure acidity leads this to a persistent finish. Impressive as always.

97 points Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au

The 2021 Art Series Chardonnay leads with a distinctly floral nose: jasmine and white garden rose, wisteria and lemon blossom. The season was a challenging one in Margaret River, defined by the rainfall, which was constant. The temperatures were modest (not cool, as plenty of rain might suggest),and given that the region is so diverse in terms of distances between vineyard areas, this created quite a patchwork of outcomes for producers. On the palate, the wine is powerful and savory—it leans heavily on exotic dry spice and cracked honeycomb, with hints of salted butter on fresh white bread, beeswax and salted pink grapefruit. Stylistically, it is not dissimilar to the 2017; however, the dovetailing of acid and fruit feels seamless and well matched here. The wine is piercing and structural, tightly coiled and almost rigid, in the best of ways. It's an impressive wine, one that, at this stage of its life, is defined by its penetrating acid line. Sealed under screw cap. This was tasted at the estate in January 2024 as part of the annual vertical of Art Series Chardonnay. The vintage span in 2024 is 1986 to 2021 (plus the 2023 barrel sample). The wine will be released March 1, 2024.

97+ points Erin Larkin robertparker.com

Extremely complex and classy on the nose with aromas of lemon peel, flint, nectarines, sea salt and minerals. The palate is tightly wound with high-tension acidity, generous mouthfeel and an underlying power, showing notes of lime curd, mandarin pith, orange blossoms, baking spices and gunsmoke. Very complete and made for the ages. Excellent. Drink or hold. Crown cap.

97 points jamessuckling.com

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay from Margaret River is one of Australia's most celebrated white wines—an icon that consistently ranks among the finest Chardonnays in the world. With a track record stretching back to the early 1980s, this wine helped define the Margaret River style: powerful yet refined, intensely flavoured but balanced by precise acidity and mineral drive. It is a flagship in every sense—sourced from mature vines, crafted with detail, and built to age for decades.

Leeuwin Estate was one of the founding wineries of Margaret River, established in the early 1970s under the mentorship of Robert Mondavi. The Art Series range represents the pinnacle of the estate's winemaking, and the Chardonnay has always been the standout. Grown on gravelly soils just a few kilometres from the cooling influence of the Indian Ocean, the fruit delivers intensity with finesse—sunshine without excess.

Each vintage is hand harvested and whole bunch pressed, then fermented in French oak barriques (usually 100 percent new), followed by extended lees contact and regular bâtonnage. This approach builds texture, layers and complexity while preserving purity of fruit. The result is a Chardonnay that sits confidently in the realm of Grand Cru-level wines, yet remains unmistakably Australian in character.

In the glass, it shows vibrant aromas of white nectarine, lemon curd, cashew, brioche and sea spray. The palate is rich and layered with stone fruit, fine citrus, roasted nuts, and a chalky, saline edge. The balance between intensity and restraint is masterful, and the finish is long, savoury and deeply satisfying. With time, it develops further depth, subtle honeyed notes, and additional savoury nuance.

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay is a wine to cellar, savour and celebrate. It has won countless awards globally and consistently garners top scores from critics year after year. For lovers of serious Chardonnay, it is a must-have.