Leeuwin: The Art of Fine Wine

 

Leeuwin Estate co-owner Simone Furlong Horgan was in Hong Kong yesterday for a series of events and comparative tastings of her “Art Series” wine label to coincide with the launch of Hong Kong Art Week in partnership with renowned UK auction house Sotheby’s.

The events, labeled “The Art of Fine Wine; The World of Fine Art” set to showcase not just the wines themselves but the now internationally acclaimed art work that adorns the labels of each and every bottle of the “Art Series” range.

Leeuwin Estate itself was founded in 1974 in the Margaret River region of Australia by Denis and Tricia Horgan and with a little help from California wine making icon Robert Mondavi. The winery is still a small, boutique, family owned business and produces world class Riesling, Chardonnay, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Celebrating the ‘Art of Fine Wine’, Leeuwin adorns its Art Series labels with replicas of works commissioned from some of Australia’s leading artists, a concept that Dennis Horgan was inspired to replicate after a visit to Chateau Mouton Rothschild.

Ms. Furlong Horgan was joined at a media lunch in Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel yesterday by Mr. Benedict Pownall of Sotheby’s to speak about the relationship between fine wine and fine art. Mr. Pownall elaborated on how provenance is just as important in the art world as it is in the wine world.

Present company was treated to the entire range of Art Series wines with comparative tastings between the current market vintages and some of their old vintages.

Wine tasted pre-lunch was the Art Series Sauvignon Blanc, swiftly followed up by the 2012 and 2005 vintages of the Art Series Riesling, highlighting the wines ability to age, even under screw-cap. The 2005 certainly had more body and character whilst the 2012 was lovely, crisp and refreshing with some lively acidity.

The 2009 and 2006 Chardonnay was tasted next with the 2006 looking and tasting exceptionally well, further proving that good things come to those who wait and certainly giving good reason to buy and cellar the current 2009 vintage and the soon to be released 2010 vintage.

The Art Series Shiraz was next with the 2004 and 2010 vintages up for comparison. Both were still young and fresh with the 2010 showing plenty of elegant fruit and the 2004 more robust and masculine. There’s still plenty of life left in the wines so if you own some or both of these wines, don’t rush to drink them quite yet.

Finally the Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon’s were compared, in this case it was the 2005 and 2008, both highly acclaimed wines by both James Halliday and Robert Parker. Both wines are soft and subtle and, with them both having been bottled in screw-cap show very little sign of aging.

All wines were paired with fantastic food from the Executive Chef of the Peninsula Hotel.

Leeuwin Estate wines, including the Art Series are exclusively distributed in Hong Kong by ASC Fine Wines. For more information go to their website www.asc-wines.com or contact Agnes Tsui on agnestsui@asc-wines.com