1981 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay

In 1984, I was set to compete in the National Apprentice Chef of the Year competition, and I had developed a recipe for a marron dish that required a chardonnay. I’m a Margaret River boy, and my dad was a good friend of the Horgans, who own and run Leeuwin Estate, so I asked Denis if I could use his Art Series Chardonnay, which had been named Best Chardonnay in the World by This wasn’t my first attempt at the competition, having come second previously, so I had the foresight to take in some wine glasses to the competition kitchen, and during the cook-off, I offered the judges a taste of this amazing wine... I won.

Decanter.