Bob McDonald

9.4

Typical nose of an Art Series Chardonnay with that dried pear character. On the medium weight palate a nice combination of ripe grapefruit and under ripe yellow peach. Medium minus acid. One can’t help but love this Chardonnay. A wonderful terroir, the Gin Gin clone, great winemaking, and an excellent vintage - ticks all the boxes. At its peak but enough acid for a few more years if you wish. That was my last bottle of the 2011. — 2 months ago

Jamie Lauder

9.0

2020 vintage.
From vineyards between 1970 feet and 2950 feet elevation.
White fruits and flowers on the nose.
Peach, honey dew melon, mandarin orange and nectarines with textural complexity and acidity.
This wine is 3/4 fermented and stored in stainless steel and 1/4 on 30 hectolitres oak casks with natural yeast.
Abbazia di Novacella has 850 years of experience and state of the art winemaking technology. — 2 years ago

Jeremy.Buss

9.1

Our third and final bottle from an order that unfortunately felt the effects of extreme cold weather back In February. This was a bit more what I expected a 5+ vintage to be. . . Light, more ethereal, balanced flavors, and soft tannins. I still like the art on this bottle and would have this again. Just recommend not receiving a shipment with sub zero temperatures. — 4 years ago

JKT

9.2

Wine dinner with big group including Butch neighbor Art, Philip and Bewan. Vertical of 2013,1989,1984 and Reserve 1996. ‘13 still young and long aging potential. ‘84 stood out amongst three, ‘89 clearly lesser vintage and heading down. Reserve tastes like a young wine and can feel the tannin. Very interesting growing. — 10 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A treat to have 2 of Australia’s leading whites as in the Art Series Chardonnay and now the Lovedale Semillon both from 2011. Ironically 2011 was an awful vintage in nearly all of Australia except for Margaret River and the Hunter Valley. This highly awarded old Semillon had aromas of Lanolin, buttered toast with wet straw. All the descriptors of quality aged Semillon. A sweetish palate with a soapy texture. Perfectly balanced with acid diminishing. You can see how UK MWs would swear in the earlier days that these Semillons had been put to wood. They know now that they only ever see stainless steel. — 2 years ago

Amanda Wilson

9.8

Great! Had at Art of Wine Sedona. 2019 vintage — 3 years ago

JKT

9.2

Wine dinner with big group including Butch neighbor Art, Philip and Bewan. The best one of the Krug ‘74 yet. Nose of pruny red fruits and earth carrying over to palate and long finish. Lively, intriguing notes coming in and out. Homage to old CA Cabs, drinking history indeed. — 10 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.0

Light, bright, and juicy Rhone blend with nice texture. Cherry compote, rhubarb, herbs, and stones. Last vintage of this ever made. Went great with spatchcock chickens, NY strips, and Art Blakey on vinyl. Thanksgiving. From mag. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

No formal notes - at an old friends unit at Main Beach for dinner. Always one of Margaret River’s leading Chardonnays - more in the peaches and cream Leeuwin Art Series style using riper fruit. Enough acid to carry this through to the latter part of the 2020’s. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Pale Lemon in colour. More in the lean style for Margaret River as compared to the richer “peaches and cream “ style of Cuvées like Leeuwin Art Series and Pierro. The oak has been judiciously dialled back not to overwhelm the more delicate fruit profile of citrus and grapefruit. Finished off with crisp acid. Would have liked a riper fruit profile from this good vintage. Perhaps picking a little later? Tasted 29 weeks later on 1st December 2021. Developing nicely with sweet grapefruit, nectarine and pear. Xanadu still having a wonderful run on the Australian Wine Show Circuit. Tasted again on 2nd July 2022 with consistent notes. Last bottle. Great value at $30 a bottle. — 4 years ago