Winemaker Notes
A dark and dense nose of blue and blackberries dominate the nose, complemented by a lifted and fragrant aromatic profile. Perfumed violets amongst black cardamom, olive, anise, cloves, and bay leaf provide subtle and classical layers. The palate has concentration, depth, and poise set with a blackberry, cherry and mulberry fruit spectrum. Layers and contours unfold into cassia, cocoa and coffee beans through the mid-palate. There is a vibrancy and seamless structure given a finely laced acid line and gravelly tannins.
Blend: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon; 4% Malbec
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of black licorice, black berry and rust. Hot stone. Full body, layered and juicy with loads of fresh fruit and chewy tannins. Sexy, muscular cabernet with tone and focus. Screw cap. Hard not to drink now. Better in 2022 but gorgeous now.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon is leafy and dark, with a resinous outlay of dark berry aromas. Licorice, anise, dark chocolate, hints of iodine and nori create the bouquet of the wine, and it directly translates to the palate. The Cabernet program at Leeuwin has evolved in what feels like leaps and bounds over the past decade.The tannins are intense and, while not quite chalky, are substantially profuse and yet very finely milled. Very good Cabernet here!
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Decanter
The improved performance of the Leeuwin reds continues here, with ripe, sweet blackcurrant fruit that is wonderfully concentrated, deep and long, with impressive weight. This has elegance, great finesse and finishes gently firm. Drinking Window 2023 - 2037
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Wine Enthusiast
This wine is elegant and finessed, with aromas of bright red current, cedar, smoke, pencil lead, rose, bay leaf and baking spices. The medium-bodied palate offers tobacco and red berry flavors ensconced in ultrafine, leathery tannins. There’s oak influence, but it is well integrated with the fruit.
Editors' Choice -
Wine Spectator
A bright mouthful of cherry, raspberry and currant flavors, full of energy and transparency to the notes of mineral, dried herb, toast, vanilla and dense espresso. Shows plenty of power on a velvety frame.
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Home to some of Australia’s most elegant and long-lived red and white wines, Margaret River is situated in the farthest reaches of Western Australia. Relatively warm and dry, the region is cooled by breezes from the Indian Ocean. Margaret River takes some inspiration from Bordeaux, producing top-quality Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux Blends with firm structure, mouthwatering acidity, balanced alcohol and notes of herbs and spice. For white wines, refreshing blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon as well as complex, age-worthy Chardonnays are regional specialties.