Margaret River is Australia’s most westerly wine region and famously home to numerous small, high-quality wineries. The wine industry has only really existed here since the 1960s, but in a relatively short period of time the region has established itself as a hotbed for top-quality fine-wine production.
There are two producers here who battle it out for the Margaret River fine wine crown. Both recognised globally as being two of not only Australia’s but the world’s most revered and respected fine wine estates: Vasse Felix and Leeuwin. It is a pleasure to offer the latest releases of the very top wines of these two great names together, for the first time.
Order by midday on Thursday 2nd July
Founded in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity, Vasse Felix was the first wine estate established in Margaret River and played a pivotal role in proving the region's potential to produce world-class fine wine. Today it remains one of Australia's most revered producers, particularly for its cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay, with flagship wines Tom Cullity and Heytesbury widely regarded among the country's finest. Under the guidance of chief winemaker Virginia Willcock, Vasse Felix has built an international reputation for wines that combine power, elegance and a strong sense of place, helping to cement Margaret River's standing alongside the world's great wine regions.
Leeuwin Estate was founded in the 1970s by Denis and Tricia Horgan and following the encouragement and guidance of American wine pioneer Robert Mondavi, the estate quickly became one of Australia's most celebrated producers. Its Art Series range, launched in 1980 and named after the original artworks featured on each label, has achieved iconic status, particularly Art Series Chardonnay, which is regularly counted among the finest white wines produced anywhere in the world. Combining longevity, precision and remarkable consistency, the Art Series wines have become benchmarks not just for Margaret River, but for Australian fine wine as a whole.
The vintages
The latest releases of the top wines from these two great estates span three vintages, with the 2022 and 2023 vintages arguably the standouts in terms of climate and vintage conditions for the classic varieties in the offer. That said, the combination of Margaret River’s consistent and moderate climate coupled with the consistency and of these two estates, means everything here is worth exploring.
- 2022
A cool, wet spring delayed vine development across Margaret River, but a warm and dry summer allowed fruit to ripen steadily and evenly. Lower yields and a gentle finish to the season produced wines of concentration, freshness and impressive balance, particularly for cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. - 2023
One of the coolest and latest vintages in recent memory, with a mild growing season extending ripening well into autumn. The resulting wines are defined by purity, tension and elegance, with bright acidity, moderate alcohol and exceptional site expression. - 2024
An exceptionally early vintage following the warmest spring in memory. Dry, sunny conditions and excellent vine health produced powerful, flavour-packed wines with remarkable acid retention, combining generosity and concentration with freshness and structure.
For anyone who is a lover of the wine world’s very greatest names, these are two that should absolutely be on your radar. For drinkers, they offer a wonderful balance of generosity of flavour with finesse, elegance and polish. For collectors (dare I say, hoarders!?), they will keep for many years to come, improving in the bottle, guaranteed to bring unbridled pleasure to anyone lucky enough to drink them more mature.
These are incredibly special wines, representing the very pinnacle of Australia’s more classic fine wine production. Given the quality and the reputation held by these two great names, the value is quite remarkable. A sign perhaps of the very Australian attitude to focusing on getting the job done really well, and not messing around with the fluff that surrounds it.
Art Series enjoys a remarkably strong following among Wine Society members, and for good reason. Expect these wines to be snapped up! It is our first time offering Vasse Felix’s Tom Cullity and Heytesbury Chardonnay in bond and it presents a wonderful opportunity to secure two of the greatest wines in Australia at the best possible price. Don’t miss out.
