Leeuwin Estate, Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River 2019

2019 was a cool vintage with good amounts of rainfall at the right times, and in the region at large, it will be remembered as the third wettest/coolest vintage since 2006, behind 2017. The lessons learned in 2017 set producers up well for the conditions of the 2019 growing season, and because of this, it is my opinion that the Cabernet wines from this 2019 year are significantly superior to those of 2017. The 2019 Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon is dark-fruited and aromatic, with tar and asphalt, peppercorns and rose oil, petrichor and forest floor. The wine is dark but not brooding (like the 2013 vintage), and its inherent detail and poise are its defining characters. Perhaps those, along with aromatics, are the defining characters of the 2019 vintage at large. The cooler year yielded a long growing season (fruit picked late April, no marri blossoms, some bird pressure), and as such, the tannins had ample time to resolve, without dropping acidity due to inclement heat events, and the same goes for fruit detail. This is a very good to excellent Cabernet vintage when managed diligently in the vineyard.