The 30 year old Penfolds Great Grandfather Rare Tawny is pale tawny in color and has a more profound nose than the Grandfather or Father labels of this style. The nose presents some earthy notes that wrap a complex spiciness around a core of Christmas cake, dried fruits, milk chocolate and incense. It’s a huge wine in the mouth - very serious stuff - with tons of layers and racy acid line to carry the flavor through the very long finish that also has a pleasant minerality. The Wine Advocate, Oct 31, 2014, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
A very elegantly complex nose with meticulously fresh aromas that range from red florals to violets, blueberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants and such sweetly perfumed cedary-oak spice. The palate has a very elegant, focused and piercingly central delivery of fine tannins,carrying pristine redcurrant and blackcurrant flavors. Seamlessly long, super fine and really packed with concentrated, contained, red-cherry and redcurrant flavors. Impressive. Drink or hold. James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com
The 2016 The Armagh Shiraz, tasted in a lineup of four vintages (2016 - 2019), has the highest alcohol of the lot (14.2% alcohol) and remains perfectly in balance. These are not the big wines that we may expect them to be. The vintage variation across them is subtle but evident, revealing the beauty of this single vineyard, planted in 1968. This 2016 wine is now starting to settle into its first drinking window and speaks of an array of deli meats, forest berries, exotic spice and even a hint of red curry paste. This has all the complexity you could want, and in terms of tannins: texture, density and rippling muscles. Sensational stuff. Drink it over the next two decades. The Wine Advocate, Sep 15, 2022, Erin Larkin
The medium-bodied 2015 Malbec is a fresh, raspberry-laden offering, with hints of fresh flowers, sage and bay leaf bringing nuance, the oak pushed into the background to provide bass notes of cedar and earth. Silky, vibrant and perfumed, this is less powerful than the 2014 but ultimately more appealing and complete. The Wine Advocate, Jun 12, 2019, Joe Czerwinski
Pale ruby colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir has a delicately perfumed nose of lavender, cinnamon stick and red roses over a core of pomegranate, rhubarb and Bing cherries. Light-bodied, very fresh and finely crafted in the mouth, it offers a very elegant yet fully ripe and intense expression with lovely harmony in the finish. 233, The Wine Advocate, 1 Nov 2017, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2014 Malbec boasts scents of leather and cedar overlaid on a base of black cherry fruit. There's a vaguely floral note on the nose as well as an earthy undercurrent. In the mouth, it's medium to full-bodied, with silky tannins and a crisp, mouthwatering finish. The Wine Advocate, Jun 12, 2019, Joe Czerwinski
This bottle was opened in front of me and served without decanting. Containing 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and with a deep garnet-purple color, the 2014 Shiraz St Henriz has a relatively shy nose of black plums, black cherries and mulberries with nuances of underbrush, fruit cake and damp soil. The full-bodied palate has satisfying richness, with firm, rounded tannins supporting the earthy fruit layers, finishing with good depth and persistence. Wine Advocate (233), 1st Nov 2017, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Deep garnet-purple, the 2013 Cloudburst Cabernet Sauvignon reveals notes of red and black currants, dark chocolate, dried herbs, cedar and yeast extract. Medium-bodied, elegant and with tense, muscular fruit at this primary stage, it has an approachable, finely grained tannic backbone and great persistence. 223, The Wine Advocate, 4 Mar 2016, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2013 Cloudburst Malbec is deep garnet-purple in color, with a heady blackcurrant and plum perfume plus meaty / earthy notes and a savory chocolate suggestion. Medium-bodied with good concentration, it has a chewy tannin backbone and long finish with a touch of balsamic coming through. 223, The Wine Advocate, 4 Mar 2016, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
A blend of Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale fruit, the 2010 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz presents a very deep purple black color and is profoundly scented of warm black berries, blueberry pie filling, licorice and cloves with hints of Chinese five spice, mocha and cedar. Very rich, powerful and very full bodied, the concentrated fruit is well balanced by a medium to firm level of rounded tannins and lively acid. It has a very long milk chocolate and coconut laced finish. Give this wine another year for the oak to marry and drink it 2013 to 2020+. 199, The Wine Advocate, 23 Dec 2011, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Very deep purple-black in color and showing an attractive nose of warm blackcurrants, blueberries and licorice with a complex undercurrent of mocha, cedar, menthol and grilled meat, the full-bodied 2010 St Henri Shiraz is relatively rich in the mouth, offering tons of fruit structured by firm, fine tannins and refreshing acid. It finishes with great persistence. Drink it 2015 to 2030+. eRobertParker.com (211), Feb 2014, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2008 Cellar Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from Barossa vineyards over 100 years of age. The wine was barrel-fermented in new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple-color, it exhibits a soaring bouquet of pain grille, pencil lead, incense, plum, blackberry, and black currant. On the palate it reveals a glossy texture, an opulent personality, superb density, and enough well-concealed stuffing to evolve for 5-7 years. It will offer a drinking window extending from 2015 to 2030. The Cellar Reserve wines are limited production bottlings sold mainly at the winery and to mailing list customers. Wine Advocate (186), Dec 2009, Jay Miller
Deep garnet with hints of purple, the 2006 RWT Shiraz has a warm cassis and black cherry compote nose with hints of pepper, cedar and black tea. Medium to full-bodied, muscular and powerful, the concentrated palate is structured by firm and rounded tannins through the long finish. 221, The Wine Advocate, 30 Oct 2015, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2005 Mount Edelstone is a 100% Shiraz cuvee sourced from a vineyard planted in 1912. Yields are a meager 0.3 to 0.5 tons of fruit per acre. In combination with a near ideal growing season, this has resulted in a great edition of Mount Edelstone, one of South Australia’s iconic wines. Purple-colored, the nose gives up notes of mocha, chocolate, smoked meat, pepper, leather, blueberry, and blackberry. Elegant, already complex, layered, and thoroughly satisfying, this superb Shiraz has enough baby fat to be enjoyed now but will amply reward 5-7 years of cellaring. It will drink beautifully through 2025. 181, The Wine Advocate, 25 Feb 2009, Jay S Miller
Deep garnet in color, the 2005 Block 6 Shiraz exudes beguiling notes of warm black cherries, raspberry preserves and Chinese dried plums with hints of fruit cake, salami, mocha and licorice. Very big, full-bodied and rich, the palate is very spicy, densely laden with dried fruits and savory flavors and structured by medium-firm grainy tannins through the long finish. Mature now, it should cellar to 2024+. Wine Advocate (211), Feb 2014, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
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Penfolds- iconic 2003 Grange is Shiraz blended with 3.5% Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra. It was aged for 15 months in 100% new American oak. Opaque purple-colored, it offers up aromas of cedar, cigar box, leather, Asian spices, and blueberry. On the palate it is layered but a bit short on depth and grip with only moderate length. It will evolve for 5-7 years and drink well from 2014 to 2030. This is a good but not great vintage of Grange making it vastly overpriced. Wine Advocate (181), Feb 2009, Jay Miller
After re-tasting the 2002 The Dead Arm Shiraz, I believe my initial rating is correct. It still plays it close to the vest, exhibiting loads of cassis, asphalt, smoke, and barbecue spice-like aromas along with full-bodied flavors. While well-made and impressive, it remains backward and restrained, and does not appear to be up to the quality of either the 2003 or the great 2001. Wine Advocate (161), Oct 2005, Robert Parker
Last but not least is Australia’s most famous wine, the 2002 Shiraz “Grange”. The 2002 version was sourced from 77.5% Barossa Valley and 22.5% from McLaren Vale. Included in the blend is 1.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It spent 17 months in 100% new American oak. Opaque purple, it gives off an ethereal bouquet of violets, saddle leather, blueberry, blackberry, pencil lead, and chocolate. This is followed by a full-bodied wine with tremendous concentration, multiple layers of flavor, ripe tannins, and great balance. Thick and rich, with a 60-second finish, it will slowly blossom over the next 15-20 years and provide pleasure through 2050. It is a legend in the making! Wine Advocate (173), Oct 2007, Jay Miller
The prodigious 1999 Shiraz Hill of Grace is a magnificent Eden Valley Shiraz, fashioned from vineyard blocks ranging between 52-144 years of age. Its inky/ruby/plum/purple color is followed by a fragrant perfume of black fruits intermixed with underbrush, dried herbs, vanilla, and spring flowers. Full-bodied, magnificently concentrated, pure, and delineated, this gorgeous, still young, compelling Shiraz is another example of a vintage that more and more appears to be underrated. It should hit its prime in 2-4 years, and last 15-20. Wine Advocate (155), Oct 2004, Robert Parker
The 1990 performed well in the tasting, but, along with the 1980, was the least impressive of these Granges. The 1990 is loosely knit, seems to border on overripeness with its jammy character, and has a slightly more aggressive style of tannin ... or are the acids more pronounced? It is certainly outstanding, displaying full body along with a classic smoky, blackberry, cassis, pepper, and forest floor-scented bouquet. Of all these wines, it appears to be the most evolved. 183, The Wine Advocate, 30 Jun 2009, Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Deep brown in color, the 1989 Hill of Grace has an appealing nose of dried cherries, fruit cake and cloves with underlying dried lavender, thyme and salami hints. Medium-bodied with tons of savory and dried berry flavor layers, it has bright acidity, a medium level of rounded tannins and a long finish with a herbal lift. It is mature. 206, The Wine Advocate, 25 Apr 2013, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 1988 Hill of Grace is medium deep brown in color and replete with earthy and leathery aromas marred by a touch of rancio /aldehydic notes that seem to recover after a few minutes and show some treacle and Indian spice hints. It is an interesting wine, though just a bit flat and tired on the palate with of medium level chewy tannins, crisp acid and a good length on what remains of the fruit. It is mature. The Wine Advocate, Apr 25, 2013, Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Leeuwin seems to be striding from strength to strength. The ever-dependable, consistent, age-worthy Art Series Chardonnay is great every season. It is always a reflection of the vintage, but it is Art Series Chardonnay first. The style is entrenched in the history of the wine, and as the vines gain in age, the fruit spectrum of the wines expand in complexity. So, each year seems to be "better than ever," and that makes sense when you drill down into site and production, both of which are tightly controlled to a high level of detail. While the 2021 Art Series Chardonnay is arguably finer than the 2020 or undoubtedly the 2022 yet to be released, it makes an impact as an excellent Art Series Chardonnay and sits beside the 2017 in style. Jul 03, 2024 The Wine Advocate Erin Larkin
The 2020 vintage in Margaret River was moderate to warm and will be forever remembered for the incredibly compacted harvest period, which started two weeks earlier than the 2019 harvest before it and was all wrapped up by Easter—that's largely unheard of. The 2020 Art Series Chardonnay leads with power and density, not unlike the 2018 before it. Tight and green in the glass, you get salted pear, white peach, nectarine, red apple skins, preserved citrus and crushed shell. The wine has minerality and tension within the confines of the opulent fruit. Staggering length, as usual. The winemaking remains relatively consistent across the years: hand-picked fruit from Block 20 and 22 (planted in 1976 and 1978, respectively). Thirty percent of the cuvée was whole bunch pressed to 100% new Burgundian oak, while the balance was destemmed, crushed and pressed to 100% new Bordelais oak. Sulfured post-ferment in order to discourage malolactic fermentation, both components remain in barrel for 11 months. Super wine. The release of the Art Series Chardonnay (in this case, the 2020 vintage) is tasted in this manner at the estate each year prior to vintage. This year, in 2023, we consider three verticals: Art Series Chardonnay 2020–1982, Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2019–2005 and the Art Series Shiraz 2011– 2021. In attendance at the tasting were siblings Justin and Simone Horgan (joint directors of the estate), winemakers Tim Lovett and Phil Hutchinson and estate viticulturist David Winstanley. As is usual for the wines from these vintages, the 2014 and 2018 Cabernets from Leeuwin Estate were standouts in this vertical. So, too, the cooler 2019 vintage. 2018 and 2019 are an interesting pair to compare, as I am reminded time and time again of their differences in style and personality now that they have settled in bottle. The two vintages were really quite different in conditions, and that, pleasingly, has yielded two very different wines in the glass. Personally, I have a penchant for the power and grace of the 2018; however, the aromatic detail and black heart of the 2019s is just as attractive, on different days of the week. No right or wrong. Just different. Though known for the Art Series Chardonnay, and for good reason, the quality of the Cabernets increases with every year that goes by (we can look to vine age, refinement of style, etc.). In terms of vintages to come, there is the warm and low-yielding 2020, the moderate but wet 2021 vintage, the warm and dry (and by all accounts and according to my 80+ barrel tastings) excellent 2022 and the cool, long, moderate and super fine 2023. Exciting times ahead for this region, and indeed, Leeuwin Estate. (https://www.robertparker.com/ Erin Larkin Jul 06, 2023)
