produced grapes of particular intensity, tannin quality and acid balance. Houghton Selection is widely planted in the Margaret River and is the foundation of the region’s reputation for ultra-fine long- lasting cabernet. Although the Houghton clone has been massively successful in Margaret River, Leeuwin Estates’ cooler southerly position can sometimes result in more muscular cabernet sauvignon styles. Although there has been extraordinary evolution in style through vineyard management, vinification and maturation techniques, the technical team has also looked at the benefits of other clonal types. In more recent years David Winstanley has planted the highly regarded French clone 337, which has a history dating back to the late 1980s in Bordeaux. The loose clusters and thick skins are excellent against disease pressure. This complementary clone is also proving to be extremely flavourful, with softer tannin profiles. There is a belief that the Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon style will benefit from its inclusion, although this is still a work in progress. Winemaking Controlled cool vinification takes place in closed fermenters, with regular pumping over to promote gentle extraction of colour, flavour and tannins. At completion of malo-lactic fermentation the wine is racked into a half–half combination of new and seasoned Bordeaux-coopered barriques (225–228-litre barrels). According to Tim Lovett, there is a great amount of detail in the oak purchasing plan because he matches oak quality with the potential character of the vintage. His suppliers include Taransaud, Sylvain and Quintessence. Oak maturation takes roughly 22–24 months, depending on vintage. Style Although previous vintages have included small amounts of cabernet franc and merlot, the style is predominately based on Houghton Selection cabernet sauvignon and malbec. The latter variety has become a blending stalwart in the region giving cabernet wines an inky depth and density. Typically, Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon is classical in aromas and
35
Volume 1 – Leeuwin Estate
Powered by FlippingBook