2016 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 750 ml

Our Head of Wine Vanessa Conlin calls Leeuwin “the benchmark estate Australian Cabernet,” while former Wine Spectator European Bureau Chief James Suckling has invoked the First Growths, calling Leeuwin the “Mouton Rothschild of Australia.” So when their Cabernets compete with the super-prestige bottlings from Napa Valley and Bordeaux, it’s business as usual for Leeuwin.

This stunning 2016 Cabernet proves why they’re one of the greats. Pouring a rich, warm, purple color, it’s got restrained yet complex aromas of cassis, black cherry, currant leaf, black pepper, tobacco, fresh herbs, and toast. With a frame like a well-made Bordeaux, you can drink it now and revel in its exquisite structure and freshness. If you crave developing complexity (and have plenty of patience), wait and see how it evolves over the next two decades. 

This wine epitomizes balance in Cabernet, and its lofty score from Wine & Spirits puts it in league with some of the biggest and most respected names in Napa Valley—at a fraction of the price.

Warmer than Bordeaux, cooler than Napa Valley, the Margaret River region of Western Australia is absolutely perfect for Cabernet, and Denis and Tricia Horgan started something special when they planted their first vines in the early 1970s. In 1973 they met American wine legend Robert Mondavi, who expressed his belief that they had terroir capable of producing world-class wines. He became a mentor.

With Mondavi’s guidance, Leeuwin quickly became 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 a maritime climate and deep, mineral-rich gravel soils that lend finesse to the wines. The Leeuwin team, under the direction of Tim Lovett, pick by individual parcels, allowing the vines to achieve maximum ripeness. 

After 22 months in French oak and other two-plus years in bottle, this benchmark Cabernet is ready—you can drink it now and revel in its structure and freshness, or cellar it for two decades and watch it evolve. As always, there’s no way to go wrong with Leeuwin.