2014 Leeuwin Estate "Prelude" Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River

2014 Leeuwin Estate "Prelude" Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River (Elsewhere $28) SKU #1390993

Price: $19.99

JH 92	WE 92	WS 92
JS 91

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Professional Reviews

James Halliday
92
This is very good Cabernet, medium-bodied and extracted with a judicious feel for varietal personality: currant and a verdant lift, underlain with black olive and bay leaf skirting across cabernet’s tannic fiber. This is massaged to the tune of mid-term drinkability, without sacrificing the wine’s structural mettle.

(08/2018)
Wine Enthusiast
92
Leeuwin’s characteristic elegance and approachability, combined with ageability, are in full force here. Trademark pencil lead, eucalyptus and red currant characters mingle with dried flowers, herbs and furniture polish. The tannins are dusty and tight-grained, with an herbaceous currant flavor continuing throughout. *Cellar Selection* (CP)

(04/2018)
Wine Spectator
92
There’s plenty of density and structure here, with a smooth, velvety quality to the notes of plum, blueberry and five-spice powder. Chai tea and graham cracker crust details linger on the long, expressive finish. (MW)

(12/2017)
James Suckling
91
Lovely fresh assortment of fruit, such as raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants and blueberries, and just a hint of some herbs from beneath. Medium-bodied with such freshness and polish. Structured tannins, really zippy acidity and a chewy finish.

(08/2018)

K&L Notes

Notes from the Winery: The Prelude Vineyards label focuses on the benchmark varietals of the region and represent the first release Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Leeuwin Estate each vintage. They are site expressive wines that encase the purity and clarity of fruit with a style that is readily expressive for earlier release. The label celebrates the Estate's association with the musical arts through the staging of the alfresco Leeuwin Concert Series. Variety: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot Alcohol: 13.8% Cellaring Potential: 10-12 years 91 pts The Wine Front: "Formerly known as Prelude Cabernet Merlot. It’s still a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (90%) and Merlot (10%). In a good place. Well balanced and styled. Blackcurrant, gum leaf, dark chocolate and olive tapenade notes. Just enough tannin, flavour and length." (CM, 08/2018)

Staff Reviews

By: Chris DePaoli
1/11/2019
K&L Staff Member

Easy, accessible Cabernet that's a great intro to the Margaret River. Grabbing a $20 dollar bottle of good juice is a much easier way to appreciate the area than the forty-two hour drive from Sydney so pop the cap and enjoy!
By: Kaj Stromer
1/10/2019
K&L Staff Member

Winter is Cabernet season and this Aussie Cabernet from the southern hemisphere will bring the warmth. The Margaret River area of Western Australian is renowned for making polished Cabernet Sauvignon and Leeuwin is one of the area’s finest producers. There’s plenty to like about this wine above and beyond the amazingly low price. The weight and richness reminds of Bordeaux but the fruit is all Australia. There’s a bouquet of dark berries and flowers on the nose followed by a brooding mélange of delicious Cabernet fruit on the palate. The only thing this wine leaves you wishing for is another sip. At $20 per bottle, drink up.
By: Blake Conklin
1/10/2019
K&L Staff Member

Leeuwin Estate has always been known for outstanding quality, and the 2014 vintage of Prelude is no exception, and for the 20 dollar price point, I don't think you can do a cab better than the Prelude. The earthy, and sometimes graphite/mineral driven notes are rather present in this particular vintage, but that's exactly what I want when I'm drinking a cab. I grew up in Napa where cab is king and I've had my fair share of many, up to the point where I cabbed myself out, and honestly it's always refreshing to taste what Australia has to offer, for once I'm excited about cab again, and Leeuwin Estate is a big reason why.
By: Will Blakely
1/10/2019
K&L Staff Member

This entry level Cabernet from easily one of the top producers in the region showcases the exceptional quality and impressive value of wines coming out of the Margaret River Valley. The trademark minerality and silty earth tones are ever present, accompanied by lush, dark berries and a bright, peppery finish. It is consistently difficult to find such polished, expressive cabs for under $20, but Leeuwin has pulled it off once again.
By: Neal Fischer
1/4/2019
K&L Staff Member

Prelude gives off ripe aromas of a dark berry medley, dusty black peeper, heady floral notes, and herbaceousness. The palate has a beautiful balance of fruit and spice with deep cassis flavors mingling with black pepper and cardamom, structured with restrained tannins. Leeuwin always makes their Prelude Cabs with the intent that they be drunk earlier rather than later, and this vintage is definitely ready to go now.
By: Stefanie Juelsgaard
1/4/2019
K&L Staff Member

From one of the top wine estates in Margaret River, the Leeuwin "Prelude" Cabernet Sauvignon is the yardstick by which the varietal should be measured. The site for Leeuwin was sought by Robert Mondavi and declared to be a premier location for growing Cabernet and Chardonnay. Leeuwin has taken advantage of this unique terrior where the Indian and Southern Oceans collide to produce wines of elegance and depth. The Prelude Cab is one of their first to be released each vintage and comes across as approachable and fresh. With the quintessential herbality characteristic of the area, this wine also exhibits red and black fruits, dusky tannin, and polished structure. While the "Art Series" Cabernet is a very special wine, this is a fantastic, affordable choice for a weeknight.
Top Value!