2013 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 750 ml

“The Mouton-Rothschild of Australia”

We love a good simile. And James Suckling gave us the best one ever, when he called Leeuwin Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon “the Mouton-Rothschild of Australia.” So, then, just how does this Australian First Growth compare to the tried and true Bordeaux First Growths? One glance at our chart, and you’ll see that from Suckling’s vantage point, it fares extraordinarily well. In 2013, from Mouton to Margaux, Suckling rated the First Growths 94-95 points. As for the “hard not to drink now” Leeuwin? It earned a whopping 96 points. When you compare the triple-digit prices of the Bordeaux Growths to the 2013 Leeuwin Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River — it’s a no-brainer. 

Denis and Tricia Hogan established one of the founding estates of Margaret River, planting their first vines in the region in the early 1970s. In 1972, an American wine legend — Robert Mondavi — reached out to the Hogans to inform them that they had terroir capable of producing world-class wines.

With the help of Mondavi’s close mentorship, Leeuwin was founded in 1973, and within years it would become the benchmark for excellence in the country, racking up dozens of 90+ scores. The winery burst onto the international stage when Decanter magazine awarded its highest honors to the 1980 Art Series following a blind tasting.

The “Art Series” wines are the richest and most age-worthy from Leeuwin’s collection, showcasing the site’s terrific pedigree. Rising roughly 200 feet above sea level, the vineyard benefits from deep, mineral-rich, gravel soils, lending finesse to the wines, and a cool maritime climate. The Leeuwin team, under the direction of Tim Lovett, pick by individual parcels, allowing the vines to achieve maximum ripeness.