Leeuwin Estate Margaret River Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay 2024

Given that the Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay is always considered one of our very best Chardonnays, each vintage, it should be no surprise that their Prelude Chardonnay is another seriously good wine. Inevitably, it will be looked at as a second wine by some, but it deserves better than that. In fact, there would be wineries lining up to have this as their pinnacle release. Fermentation was in French barriques with 35% of them new. The wine then spent a further ten months in maturation. Lemon/straw in colour, there are gorgeous aromas here, with cashews, white peaches, stone fruits, nectarines, woodsmoke, citrus and mandarins all prevalent. The wine has enjoyed excellent oak handling, is of medium to good length and offers a fine line of acidity. Fresh and bright, this has at least six to eight years of providing pleasure ahead of it.