Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay 1998

Margaret River, Western Australia. 14%. Cork (1/3 stained). Source: Cellar.

Until this morning, I had been under the mistaken belief, that the bottle of wine, heavily wrapped in white paper and sitting in my wine cabinet, was a bottle of 2000 Art Series Chardonnay. Using my home made spectroscope (eye, wine bottle and window), I could see that the contents were starting to brown, especially in comparison to a control bottle (of 2002 Leeuwin Chardonnay). Time to move. . .

Mature and golden. Concentrated, abundant and ready. Dried figs and quince paste come to mind, along with butterscotch and a very ripe Bethonga pineapple. Silky and seamless, this is rounded and fleshy. Whilst the customary power and line is still there, it's fading and being replaced by honey and the softness of age.

Very good - excellent.
91.
Now.*

* I suspect there will be some bottle to bottle variation here (the inconsistency of cork and cellar to cellar differences).

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