2022 Leeuwin Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon

97 Points - Ray Jordan, rayjordanwine.com
This is yet another release that shows the continual transformation of Leeuwin cabernets into now some of the very best in the region. It was a terrific year for producing fruit of exceptional varietal expression and intensity, and real balance. This is largely cabernet but again, a tiny percentage of malbec plays an important role. It's had about 50% new French oak for nine months, and overall spends about 22 months in oak. It retains an elegance and poise, yet at the same time, it's powerful and intense. Blackcurrant, a little leaf, a touch of oyster shell, and even a fragrant lift of violet on the nose. It's seamlessly integrated with fine chalky tannins and fine oak. This is as good as any cabernet released yet from Leeuwin. Score: 97/100 Cellar: 20 years

95 Points - Tom Kline, Wine Pilot
Putting aside its nervy infancy, this is a brilliant wine from a brilliant producer that expresses its origins now and will develop immense complexity over decades. It takes its time to unfurl beyond oak in the beginning, but when that beautiful fruit awakens and sinks into the wine, this becomes a gorgeous Cabernet of perfumed complexity. Cedar and vanilla pod notes mark the aromas first off before blackberry pastilles, blackcurrant juice, mulberry and blood plum. There’s lovely savouriness in support, too, with bay leaf, warm gravel, hazelnut, dark chocolate and graphite adding dimension as well as a nori-laced mineral note and flickers of black tea. Very good. The palate is at once powerful and elegant with a medium-bodied feel, again with oak taking the lead in the form of cedar wood and vanilla before a finespun and elegant piercing of fruit breaks through the core. Black cherry, blackcurrant, mulberry and blood plum again before dark chocolate and gravel in support. A stacked and grainy frame of graphite tannins coil it all up and funnel the wine into linear length with cooling acidity. An excellent Art Series Cabernet release where patience will reward.