Is this Australia's best Chardonnay? If not then it shares the rarified air reserved for only the finest examples. Rich yet restrained, with mineral notes, cashew and almond meal, amazing fruit complexity and wonderful length...why not try the benchmark?

A concentrated dark fruit spectrum with an abundance of ripe blackcurrants, cherries and a hint of cassis. Coffee bean, dark chocolate and black olives lie beneath. Subtle dustiness combines with a seductive violet lift, enhancing the varietal fragrance and increasing complexity. A dense and layered palate with incredible texture. The generosity of the palate is carefully laced with a fine and structural acid line. Dark cherries and currants weave through smokey and mocha notes, finishing with long tactile tannins.

Fragrant and energetic, the nose has an abundance of lycee, kiwifruit and blackcurrant with lime curd and lemon sherbet. Thai basil, sliced fennel, ginger and citrus blossom sit neatly in the background. A gentle entry leads to a delicately textured mid palate. Bursting lemon, lime and grapefruit dominate throughout with bright acidity, a slightly savoury line and a talc-like finish.

With the benefit of bottle age, this wine has gracefully traded some of its youthful vibrancy for a beautiful increase in texture and complex depth. The elegant nose has matured, allowing the luxurious notes of roasted cashew, almond meal, and subtle spice to rise to the forefront, perfectly complementing the soft, integrated citrus and floral hints. On the palate, the immense purity of youth has evolved into a delicately layered, full mouthfeel defined by sesame seed and blanched almonds. The fine mineral spine is now a commanding feature, ensuring the wine retains a powerful persistence and finishes with polished structure.

A nose of cassis and chocolate with a hint of tobacco. The palate is filled with irresistible mulberry fruit and the tannins are soft and velvety. An impressive effort from a Margaret River icon!

Lifted ripe nashi pears, lemon, quince, and melon, lying beneath are notes of freshly grown lavender blossom with hints of sweet baked apple pie crust and cassia bark from the wines time on yeast lees in bottle. A lovely textural palate is evident immediately, showing quince, subtle lime and just caramelized nougat. This Leeuwin Estate Brut Pinot Noir Chardonnay displays a fine bead that threads the acid line into a seductive mouth filling and long palate.