2022 Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay, Leeuwin Estate

A bona fide icon of New World wine, Leeuwin Estate is one of the five founding wineries of Margaret River and the source of arguably Australia’s greatest Chardonnay, the Art Series. Its first vintage was heralded by Jancis Robinson MW in a piece for Decanter as ‘the best Chardonnay in the world’ and similar accolades have followed ever since.  

It seems strange therefore to describe a Chardonnay from Leeuwin as a ‘hidden gem’, but that’s exactly what the Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay is – a wine that’s less heralded but, in its category, no less impressive that the Art Series. 

In fact, Prelude hails from the same vineyards as the Art Series (with the notable exception of the historic Block 20, whose fruit is reserved for the “Grand Vin”). A barrel selection after 9 months determines what goes into the Art Series – a wine of breathtaking concentration and age-ability – and what becomes the earlier-drinking Prelude.  

The 2022 Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay from Leeuwin Estate is, by any measure, an outstanding cool climate Chardonnay. With a come-hither nose of ripe citrus, apricot, almonds and toasty oak (40% new), it combines impressive depth and richness with the tension and sea spray finish – redolent of the crashing waves at nearby Redgate Beach – that are hallmarks of the estate’s whites. 

Available now In Bond or for delivery, 2022 Prelude promises a long drinking window. It can be enjoyed now, sur le fruit, in spring 2024, but will continue to gain complexity – and reveal all its considerable class – over the coming five years. It’s a stellar addition to any table and any cellar.