2019 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River

It’s masterful to craft a wine that is structured, detailed, powerful and concentrated, and yet, it feels effortless. Mulberries, cassis, warm spices, violets and cedary oak come together in harmony while the tannins sashay across the palate. Flavours persist, as does the finish, and it will age beautifully but hard to resist now. Impressive wine.

97 points Special Value ✪ Jane Faulkner winecompanion.com.au Aug 2023

2019 was a cool vintage with good amounts of rainfall at the right times, and in the region at large, it will be remembered as the third wettest/coolest vintage since 2006, behind 2017. The lessons learned in 2017 set producers up well for the conditions of the 2019 growing season, and because of this, it is my opinion that the Cabernet wines from this 2019 year are significantly superior to those of 2017. The 2019 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon is dark-fruited and aromatic, with tar and asphalt, peppercorns and rose oil, petrichor and forest floor. The wine is dark but not brooding (like the 2013 vintage), and its inherent detail and poise are its defining characters. Perhaps those, along with aromatics, are the defining characters of the 2019 vintage at large. The cooler year yielded a long growing season (fruit picked late April, no marri blossoms, some bird pressure), and as such, the tannins had ample time to resolve, without dropping acidity due to inclement heat events, and the same goes for fruit detail. This is a very good to excellent Cabernet vintage when managed diligently in the vineyard.

97 points Erin Larkin robertparker.com March 2025

Deep ruby red in the glass. Classic aromas of cassis, tobacco and cedar shavings lift up and are mirrored on the full, yet supple palate. The balance between the fruit weight and sandy persistent tannins creates a tension that sends the entire package very long to the finish. Very classy and classic Margaret River cabernet 11 JAN 2023 Drink 2023–2036

95 points Stuart Knox therealreview.com

96% cabernet sauvignon, 4% malbec.
Gosh this is good. This is the region and the variety and the estate all committing to the task and combining to exemplary effect. Such structure, such fruit, such balance and such impact. Blackcurrant and pencils, dark chocolate and herbs, some eucalypt lift and even some florals. Tannin, my word, it’s beautifully formed, a keel with wings, a determinant. I kept tasting this wine and it kept telling me things. Leeuwin Estate cabernet is now right up there with the best. Drink 2028-2040+

96 points Campbell Mattinson winefront.com.au

Few producers define Margaret River quite like Leeuwin Estate and the Art Series range has long been a benchmark for collectors who value both pedigree and polish. Founded in the 1970s with the encouragement of Robert Mondavi, the estate quickly rose to international acclaim, particularly for wines that combine maritime freshness with deep varietal character. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a superb vintage in the region, where a long, even growing season allowed fruit to ripen slowly and develop layered complexity while retaining the structure that makes Margaret River Cabernet so age worthy.

Deep garnet with a vibrant crimson rim, the wine opens with beautifully defined aromas of blackcurrant, dark cherry and mulberry intertwined with bay leaf, cedar, violet and a subtle graphite note. There is a sense of quiet authority here. The palate is medium to full bodied and finely composed, flowing with cassis and plum before tightening into firm yet polished tannins. Hints of dark chocolate, tobacco leaf and fine oak spice add dimension, while fresh acidity carries the finish long and savoury with classic regional precision.

This is the kind of Cabernet that rewards both patience and occasion. Think slow roasted beef with rosemary, lamb rack with herb crust, or aged cheddar enjoyed beside a glowing fire as the evening stretches on. Already impressive with a generous decant, yet built to evolve gracefully for fifteen to twenty years as layers of leather, cigar box and earthy complexity emerge. A compelling and authentic Art Series release that reinforces Leeuwin Estate’s place among Margaret River’s great names.