Stay in touch with the latest news and happenings at Vasse Felix, in Margaret River and on tour around the world.
2021 Shiraz whole bunch ferments.
Over the years, we've been increasing the portion of whole bunch fermentation and carbonic maceration, for the vibrancy and complexity it brings to the final wine.
This style of fermentation requires regular plunging to ensure the skins impart incredible colour, flavour and tannins to the wine. These beautiful Shiraz parcels will soon be pressed to older French Oak Barriques for maturation.
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It was a particularly exciting hand pick yesterday, as we began harvest of Tom's old vine Houghton clone Cabernet blocks.
Grown on original roots, in the ancient gravel loam soils of our Home Vineyard site, these blocks have lived through all the grape-growing years known to Margaret River and remain strong with consistent yields and berries.
Half a century on, they remain our trusted indicator of quality for Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon and guide the direction of each vintage of our Icon, the TOM CULLITY Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec.
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Thrilled to see the 2019 Chardonnay named the Best Of Premium White in Vintage Cellars 2021 Best of Awards.
The new release was selected from amongst some stellar competition.
"Vasse Felix enjoys the spoils of a unique environment and climate in Western Australia's Margaret River Region and Vasse Felix Chardonnay Premier is the vineyard's signature chardonnay drop, showing elegance, power and restraint."
"A mouth-watering sweet and salty sensation leads to a lovely, fresh acid finish."
The 2019 Chardonnay was also recently reviewed by Ray Jordan of The West Australian at 96 points;
"Another belter under this label. First thing, and I have said it often: It is way too cheap for a wine for this class. It’s a wonderful expression of this cool vintage, displaying more restraint and delicacy than the marvellous 2018. Wild yeast and some malolactic fermentation have contributed to the beautifully textured mouth feel. Minerally with a fine citrus edge, cuts through a palate of intensity and depth that explodes through to a very long finish. (Best drinking: Now to 2028)"
Tasting notes and more information on this new release can be found here.
Judicious canopy management has been essential this harvest season to manage the peculiar weather challenges of a La Niña season.
The intensive leaf plucking program has helped to balance the access of our ripening fruit to warmth, sunlight and airflow, resulting in pristine bunches and little-to-no disease in our vineyards.
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Our viti crew were joined by the multitalented Estate hospitality team to handpick our Cane Cut Semillon blocks in the Adam's Road vineyard in March.
The Cane Cut method is a method perfectly suited to the Mediterranean climate of Margaret River. Approximately four weeks before harvest, as the berries achieve ripeness, fruiting Semillon canes are cut just above the cordon, restricting their access to water.
The bunches are then left hanging in the autumn breeze until the fruit has dried and shrivelled on the canes, concentrating the sugar, flavour and natural acidity, to create an incredibly succulent, fresh and juicy dessert wine.
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We are thrilled with the latest reviews of our 2019 releases by West Australian wine critic Ray Jordan.
"Willcock has taken Vasse Felix’s chardonnays to lofty levels in recent years and these latest examples show both the qualities of the 2019 vintage and Willcock’s deft touch in bringing them to life with restraint and complexity." Ray Jordan, The West Australian
Full reviews can be found below.
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2019 Heytesbury Chardonnay
98 points
"Shows the influence of the cool vintage. Refined and elegantly crafted chardie. Has more new oak than the standard chardie, but the power and intensity of the fruit handles it easily to maintain balance without a hint of excessiveness. Only natural yeasts are used and it gets nine months in oak with some battonage. Has a slightly charry character that augments the grapefruit and pear characters with a distinct savoury edge on the palate. Long and defined palate. One of the finest yet under this label."
2019 Vasse Felix Chardonnay
96 points
"Another belter under this label. First thing, and I have said it often: It is way too cheap for a wine for this class. It’s a wonderful expression of this cool vintage, displaying more restraint and delicacy than the marvellous 2018. Wild yeast and some malolactic fermentation have contributed to the beautifully textured mouth feel. Minerally with a fine citrus edge, cuts through a palate of intensity and depth that explodes through to a very long finish."
2019 Vasse Felix Sauvignon Blanc
95 points
"Winemaker Virginia Willcock has pushed into exotic areas with this little beauty. It’s mostly savvy with about 11 per cent semillon and was wild fermented in French oak foudres. It also has some time in puncheons and barriques and there's quite a high percentage of new oak. I suspect Willcock has had a bit of fun mucking about with this. Has a delightful savoury, primary lemony combination with a slightly nutty, creamy texture. Finishes with a dry savouriness. Lovely wine."
It's been a busy time in the Winery as we finish off the Chardonnay vintage, with last week marking the whole bunch press of our final parcels of 2021 Gingin clone Chardonnay.
Whole bunch press forms a key part of the Vasse Felix Chardonnay style, allowing us to achieve the high solids that contribute such beautiful savoury complexities to the final wine.
Gently hand picked fruit is chilled and then whole bunch pressed to create free run juice with the perfect soilds contribution. The magic of getting the right amount solids lies in carefully breaking a small number of berries to stimulate the start of maceration, before transferring the unclarified juice to fine French oak for wild fermentation.
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The shifting hues of Cabernet veraison.
With warm, sunny mornings and cooling afternoon sea breeze off the Indian Ocean, our Cabernet vines are supported to preserve their vibrant fruit characters on the long journey to tannin ripeness, creating beautiful Cabernet at every level.
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A glorious Margaret River sunrise greeted our pickers last week in the Darch Block Chardonnay vines of our Boodjidup Vineyard.
Beautiful warm, sunny days have negated the risk of disease pressure brought on by a February rainfall event, resulting in incredibly pristine Chardonnay fruit.
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Gently pressed and transferred to fine French oak, this pure, unclarified Chardonnay juice will ferment with 100% wild yeasts, before maturing on lees for approximately nine months with battonage.
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