Winemaker Notes
An abundace of bursting blackcurrants, boysenberries and mulberries glide between sweet and toasted spices of black cardamom, cinnamon quill and nutmeg. Offset are perfumed notes of violets, anise, dark chocolate, camphor and Sichuan peppercorns. The palate is fi nely poised, yet with a generous mid palate weight. Vibrant and opulent black and blue fruits mesh with dried cranberries, caramel and cocoa notes. The tannins are tactile and structural providing direction and length.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A fresh and fruity shiraz with blueberry, smoke, slate and licorice character. Medium body, pretty fruit and a crisp and linear finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Art Series Shiraz is savory and spicy on the nose, with blood and rust, mulberry compote, licorice, star anise and gravel. The wine is medium-bodied and very fresh, with fine acidity and juicy, almost tangy fruit (akin to biting through the skin of a Satsuma plum). This is finely textured and vibrant, although the nose and palate are at different stages of evolution.
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Wine Spectator
Distinctive, crisp red fruit flavors give way to floral and spice details, a touch of horehound candy and accents of caramel, set on a sleek, juicy body. The tannins firm up on the finish, where a spicy element comes in. Drink now through 2029.
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Wine Enthusiast
Leeuwin’s Art Series Shiraz has suffered from a soapy oak quality in the past, and while this vintage is sans soap, it’s just as, if not more, oaky. A shame, seeing as the fruit is obviously top-notch. It’s on display in the form of raspberry, plum, licorice, bay leaf, graphite and winter warming spice characters. Medium bodied, there’s a lovely line of acidity, finely knit tannins and a chalky texture. The wood creeps in here, too, particularly on the finish. In spite of this, there’s a lot of fine winemaking here. Drink now–2026.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
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.