2022 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

The 2022 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon hails from a warm and dry vintage in Margaret River, one that is showing to be a very high-quality Cabernet vintage. The palate shows a pure core of raspberry and blood orange, nori and raw cocoa, even chinotto-esque in its leanings, with bramble and forest floor, graphite and cracked fennel seed. This is a velvety, tightly controlled, compact and excellent wine. The oak shows ever so slightly on the nose, in the form of malt biscuit and aniseed. This will be quickly subsumed by the fruit in a short time.

97 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, August 2026

This is yet another release that shows the continual transformation of Leeuwin cabernets into now some of the very best in the region. It was a terrific year for producing fruit of exceptional varietal expression and intensity, and real balance. This is largely cabernet but again, a tiny percentage of malbec plays an important role. It's had about 50% new French oak for nine months, and overall spends about 22 months in oak. It retains an elegance and poise, yet at the same time, it's powerful and intense. Blackcurrant, a little leaf, a touch of oyster shell, and even a fragrant lift of violet on the nose. It's seamlessly integrated with fine chalky tannins and fine oak. This is as good as any cabernet released yet from Leeuwin. Drink to 2042.

97 points Ray Jordan Wine Review 2026

One of the most elegant Art Series wines to date, yet it still has plenty of detail and power; it just feels more composed. A whorl of mulberries and blackberries all spiced up with cedary oak and cinnamon, licorice root and nori. The more mid-weighted palate is very even, with beautifully judged cocoa powder–like tannins. The invigorating acidity lengthens out the finish. It’s singing now yet will age gracefully. Bravo. Drink to 2040.

96 points Jane Faulkner for Halliday Wine Companion, November 2025

Deep colour with a tinge of purple and a bouquet of cedar, black berry fruits, fresh leather and a hint of black olive. The wine is intense and alive on the palate with excellent concentration, structure and length. The tannins are abundant and powdery, adding backbone, length and drama; the ageing potential is undoubted. Superb cabernet with a brilliant future. Drink to 2042.

96 points Huon Hooke for The Real Review, June 2025 

There is debate in the Margaret River region as to whether 2022 or 2023 is the better vintage. It is a line ball decision – both were wonderful, so consumers simply can’t lose – but I’d probably opt for the younger year by a whisker. All that means is that fans of this wine just might have something even more exciting down the track. The initial maturation for this wine was in French oak, 50% of which were new. The parcels were then blended and further maturation, a total of 22 months, took place in ‘French Bordelaise coopered barriques’. A vibrant maroon hue, the nose exhibits aromas of tobacco leaves, licorice, blackberries, truffles, graphite, cigar boxes and mulberries, with deftly handled oak, providing a flick of vanilla which sits comfortably. Balanced and lingering, with underlying intensity and juicy acidity, this has a seductive texture and will continue to improve for many years. Enjoy over the next ten to fifteen years. Leeuwin’s Art Series Cab now sits among the very best from the region. Drink to 2040.

96 points Ken Gargett for Wine Pilot, June 2025

A really great release that is quite elegant and perfumed. Aromas of blackcurrants, fresh plums, graphite, blackberries and dried herbs with tobacco and tomato leaves, cocoa beans, licorice and violets. The medium- to full-bodied palate has firmly framed yet finely tuned tannins and a plush, savory profile. There's a mineral edge here with purity of fruit and plenty of time left in bottle. Drink or hold.

95 points James Suckling, July 2025

Putting aside its nervy infancy, this is a brilliant wine from a brilliant producer that expresses its origins now and will develop immense complexity over decades. It takes its time to unfurl beyond oak in the beginning, but when that beautiful fruit awakens and sinks into the wine, this becomes a gorgeous Cabernet of perfumed complexity. Cedar and vanilla pod notes mark the aromas first off before blackberry pastilles, blackcurrant juice, mulberry and blood plum. There’s lovely savouriness in support, too, with bay leaf, warm gravel, hazelnut, dark chocolate and graphite adding dimension as well as a nori-laced mineral note and flickers of black tea. Very good. The palate is at once powerful and elegant with a medium-bodied feel, again with oak taking the lead in the form of cedar wood and vanilla before a finespun and elegant piercing of fruit breaks through the core. Black cherry, blackcurrant, mulberry and blood plum again before dark chocolate and gravel in support. A stacked and grainy frame of graphite tannins coil it all up and funnel the wine into linear length with cooling acidity. An excellent Art Series Cabernet release where patience will reward.

95 points Tom Kline for Wine Pilot, June 2025

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Art Series is a classically styled Margaret River expression that shows elegance and confidence, with vibrant red currant and leaf, topped by a touch of raspberry and a hint of dried herbs. Quality oak sits in the background. The palate is mid weight and surprisingly tannic, with a strong core of cedary cassis flavors building toward a well structured finish. This will shine with a little more time in bottle. Drink to 2038.

93 points Angus Hughson for Vinous, January 2026

Few wines better capture the pedigree of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon than the Art Series from Leeuwin Estate. The estate was established in the early 1970s when Denis and Tricia Horgan planted vineyards on advice from the legendary Napa Valley winemaker Robert Mondavi, who recognised the extraordinary potential of the site. Today the winery is led by the second generation of the Horgan family with winemaker Tim Lovett continuing the tradition of producing wines that combine power, elegance and longevity. The Art Series label itself celebrates Australian art, with each vintage featuring a new commissioned work on the bottle.

Deep garnet with a dense crimson core, the aromatics are layered and complex. Blackcurrant, dark plum and mulberry rise from the glass alongside bay leaf, cedar and graphite. Subtle notes of tobacco leaf, dark chocolate and fine oak spice add depth, reflecting both the quality of the fruit and careful maturation.

On the palate it is full bodied and beautifully structured. Concentrated cassis and dark berry fruit sit at the centre, framed by firm, finely grained tannins and vibrant natural acidity that give remarkable balance. Layers of cedar, cocoa and savoury spice unfold through the mid palate, leading to a long, elegant finish with lingering blackcurrant and mineral notes. It is a benchmark expression of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon.

Pair with roast lamb, grilled ribeye, venison or aged cheddar. While impressive now with careful decanting, Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon is built for the cellar and will evolve gracefully for twenty to thirty years, developing complex layers of cigar box, earth and spice.