Established in 1973 by Denis and Tricia Horgan, Leeuwin Estate is one of Margaret River’s founding wineries and helped define fine wine in Western Australia, with early encouragement from Robert Mondavi and a long-standing reputation for producing benchmark Shiraz.

From Margaret River, one of Australia’s premier maritime wine regions, the Art Series Shiraz draws on the area’s coastal influence and long growing season to deliver both concentration and finesse. Leeuwin’s Art Series wines have become iconic expressions of the region and the estate’s signature wines.

Grapes for the 2023 Art Series Shiraz were hand harvested, de-stemmed with 20% whole-bunches remaining. Each parcel was individually fermented in stainless steel tanks with daily pump overs to extract colour and flavour. The wine was then aged for six months in 30% new French oak. The individual parcels were then blended together and aged an additional 12 months in French barrels. In the glass, the wine is fragrant and layered, with cherry blossom, violets, rose water, blue fruits, mulberries, and damson plum, backed by notes of white pepper, anise, cinnamon, and clove. The palate is delicate yet persistent, offering blackberries, dark pastille fruit, bright acidity, a fine graphite edge, and elegant tannins that bring poise and length.

Pair it with rosemary-grilled lamb, pepper-crusted duck breast, or slow-braised beef cheek.

“It may be too early to call for certain, but the 2023 season in Western Australia, specifically in Margaret River, is shaping up to be one of the very best. And I make that comment with 2018 front of mind. The season was mild, dry (mostly) and long, and it seems to have extracted the best from most producers, in all regions, across all varieties in Western Australia. A very exciting consistency of condition occurred. I, for one, have been actively putting my money where my mouth is and investing in wines from this vintage. I know I’ll regret it if I don’t.”
95 points, Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, March 2025

“Fruit is largely from the estate’s southernmost vineyards, prime Shiraz country in Margaret River. A vibrant magenta in the glass and elegant perfume, complete with dusty blueberries, red plum, fragrant spring blossom, saltbush, smoked safe and candied aniseed. A burst of fruit sweetness on the palate, swiftly followed by attention-seeking chewy yet fine and velvety tannins. An undercurrent of refreshing acidity lifts – this is a rollercoaster of a wine. Among the sweet fruited core and wood spice, vanilla bean jostles with a bresaola meatiness. Oak is nestled in the mix, well placed with its lightly toasted cedar notes. A mid-weight Shiraz, energy and brightness are aligned with a firm backbone of structure. This has plenty going for it and will delight in the glass now or with some cellar time.”
94 points, Cassandra Charlick, Decanter, April 2025