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Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay 2008   Still pale quartz-green; the finesse of Art Series Chardonnay when it is young is every bit as enjoyable as is the complexity it gains after six or seven years in bottle (under screwcap), its future still assured. We know that good bottles from the mid-1980s are still glorious, although most are now a shadow of their former selves. What we don't really know is how long the wines such as this live and flourish under screwcap. Drink to 2028 with Margaret River abalone 96 POINTS James Halliday Top 100 Wines for 2011 OTHER REVIEWS:   The core of the Art Series Chardonnay is Block 20 (one of five blocks on the estate) with yields never exceeding 2.5 tonnes to the acre, and frequently less than 2 tonnes. Barrel fermentation in the finest French oak, and prolonged bottle maturation do the rest. James Halliday A succession of brilliant vintages and an extraordinary consistency of style, has made Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay the most highly prized Australian white wine on the secondary market. Indeed, it now sits with Penfolds Grange in the Exceptional category of Langton’s Classification. The Block 20 vineyard is a source of the most extraordinary and exquisite Chardonnay fruit imaginable. Andrew Caillard MW Large percentage of this wine was barrel fermented and all of it aged in French Oak for an average of nine months. The nose has a full intense fruit with oak and roundness from bottle ageing. The palate is full with a soft finish. Again the wood is evident but not dominating the superb fruit. The wine is well balanced and harmonious and showing good aging potential. Leeuwin Plain and simple, Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay is one of Australia's great wines and arguably the most consistent performer at the highest level. David Pike, Scoop Magazine, Autumn 2003, The wine is just extraordinary. Bill Thompson, The Sunday Times (WA), Notwithstanding the challanges of Yattarna, giaconda, Petaluma Tiers and so forth, Leeuwin is my choice as Australia's best Chardonnay. James Halliday