2020 Art Series Shiraz, Leeuwin Estate

Midnight Silk

Dark, aromatic and beautifully composed, this is Shiraz with real depth and a wonderfully calm sense of power. Black cherry, blueberry and plum rise from the glass, followed by black olive, cracked pepper, warm spice and a touch of dark chocolate that gives the wine extra breadth and intrigue. The palate is layered and finely woven, with ripe dark fruit, savoury notes and a graphite-like line running through the middle, all held together by fresh acidity and elegant tannins. There is richness here, certainly, but it never feels heavy, only polished, poised and quietly commanding, with a long finish that lingers on spice, fruit and mineral detail.

For when: the lights are low, the food is rich, and the bottle needs real presence without losing its grace.
Pairs with: roast lamb, venison, smoked brisket, or mushroom dishes with plenty of depth and spice.
If this wine were a place: a Margaret River evening after sunset, with warm earth underfoot and the ocean somewhere in the dark beyond.**

Leeuwin Estate is one of Margaret River’s benchmark producers, and while Chardonnay may be the headline act, the Art Series Shiraz has become one of the estate’s most quietly compelling wines. The fruit for the 2020 comes from the cooler inland Peppy Park vineyard, south of the main estate, and the wine is raised with the same patient, finely tuned approach that defines the house style. The result is Shiraz that feels more about finesse, freshness and detail than sheer weight, which is exactly what makes it so distinctive.