Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay 2024 is a bright, poised and generously textured expression of Margaret River Chardonnay. Made entirely from Chardonnay and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques, with 35% new oak, it combines lively citrus and ripe stone fruit with subtle toast, cedar and nutty complexity. Crisp acidity provides definition and length, making this an immediately enjoyable wine with excellent medium-term cellaring potential.

Decanter | D 95
Published: Jul 14, 2026
Drink: 2026-2032

Like stepping into a garden. A cloud of jasmine, honeysuckle, fennel blossom, sweet pea and apricot blossom, with custard apple, custard powder and lots of oriental spice and florals. The palate speaks of toasty oak, firm phenolics and structure, with a juicy layer of fleshy stone fruit and lemon pip, vanilla bean, custard pie and marzipan, though cutting acidity keeps it fresh against rather a lot of fruit sweetness. Lacy, crunchy acidity lifts the fresh factor, while texture and oak provide a creamy mouthfeel. A fabulous wine to drink now. From Gingin clone vines. Some skin contact, fermented in French barriques, 35% new, followed by 10 months in barrel.

The Wine Advocate | RP 94
Published: Aug 27, 2026
Drink: 2026-2034

The 2024 Prelude Vineyards Chardonnay is excellent. The warm conditions of 2024 have produced a tranche of wines that show great drinkability early. This is concentrated, saline, punchy, spicy and a little flinty. It's really good. It's coming to the end of its release cycle now and will soon be replaced by the 2025 vintage in mid-2026.

Winter 2023 was generally mild. While there were a few wild, wet, and grey pruning days, they were fewer than usual. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir burst early, reaching 100% budburst by August 18. Riesling followed soon after, with the red varieties breaking bud in mid- to late September as the weather improved. The 2024 season was dry, with the last significant rain falling in mid-September—only 25.2 millimeters fell from then until the end of the vintage. Warm conditions meant the season started earlier than average and finished early as well. A couple of hot days, combined with consistently beautiful weather through November and December, set the stage for a January 15 start to Pinot Noir harvesting for sparkling wine. Chardonnay handpicking began in quick succession from January 30 and continued for several weeks, with fine, sunny, mild mornings. Riesling harvest also began at this time, picked at night to ensure the cool arrival of pristine lemon-lime fruit at the winery. January and February 2024 brought a spectacular flowering of the local red gum, marri. Calm harvest mornings were filled with the delicate, sweet, honey-like scent of the blossom-laden trees. The bloom kept birds entirely distracted during the white harvest, preventing damage to the fruit. The marri blossom isn't spoken about perhaps as much as it should be, for the impact it has on birds, which are beautiful but a key viticultural challenge in years with low marri blossoming.

Leeuwinestate.com.au

There is energy, brightness, and fragrance here. Lime sherbet, pear and burnt lemon unfold effortless together. Floral elements are expressed with wattle flowers, frangipani petals and jasmine. Delicate layers of nougat, brioche, macadamia, and chamomile offer sweet yet savoury complexity.

The palate is concentrated with gentle layers, textures and contours. Finger limes, peach flesh, nashi pear and lemon curd weave throughout harmoniously. Laced minerality, saline notes and iodine tightly coil all elements together. There is subtle tension and focus leading towards the end.

Technical Specs

Alcohol: 14.0%
Closure: Screw Cap
Harvest: Hand-picked from 30 January 2024, continuing over several weeks
Varietals: Chardonnay 100%
Fermentation: French-coopered barriques
Oak: French oak barriques, 35% new oak and 65% one-year-old oak
Ageing: 10 months in barrel
Winemaker: Phil Hutchison
Total Acidity: 7.35 g/L
pH: 3.14
Region: Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia

Serving Temperature: 10–12°C
Decanting: Not required; allow 10–15 minutes in the glass to open.
Food Pairing: Excellent with grilled lobster, scallops, roast chicken, creamy seafood pasta, grilled fish, roast pork, mushroom dishes and soft cheeses.