2019 Chardonnay awarded Cellar Press 2021 Best of Premium White

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.

26/03/2021 at 8:41 PM Permalink

Vintage 2021 Photo Essay | Cabernet Canopy Management

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.

Follow us on Instagram for more, @vassefelixwines.

25/03/2021 at 4:31 PM Permalink

Vintage 2021 Photo Essay | Cane Cut Semillon Harvest

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.

Follow us on Instagram for more, @vassefelixwines.

18/03/2021 at 4:01 PM Permalink

"Deft Touch Rewards" Stellar Reviews for 2019 Releases

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.

______

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."

14/03/2021 at 12:56 PM Permalink

Vintage 2021 Photo Essay | Whole Bunch Chardonnay Press

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.

Follow us on Instagram for more, @vassefelixwines.

11/03/2021 at 4:00 PM Permalink

Vintage 2021 Photo Essay | The Cabernet Veraison Journey

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.

Follow us on Instagram for more, @vassefelixwines.

05/03/2021 at 3:54 PM Permalink

Vintage 2021 Photo Essay | Sunrise Handpick

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.

Follow us on Instagram for more, @vassefelixwines.

26/02/2021 at 1:51 PM Permalink

Vintage 2021 Photo Essay | Crafting Chardonnay

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.

Follow us on Instagram for more, @vassefelixwines.

19/02/2021 at 5:24 PM Permalink

Vintage 2021 Photo Essay | Chardonnay Harvest

The 2021 Chardonnay harvest began last week with the team handpicking in our Gnarawary Blocks at the Boodjidup Vineyard, just south of Margaret River town.

Harvest has continued in all four of our Margaret River vineyards, including our Home Vineyard (pictured below) while in the Winery the team carefully press and transfer the beautifully crisp, ripe Chardonnay to French oak for wild fermentation. 

This is a particularly exciting vintage for us as it is the first harvest where two of our vineyards, Adams Road and Karridale, are officially certified organic! The remainder of our Vineyard collection, Home Vineyard and Boodjidup Vineyard, is completing the ‘in conversion’ period, with official certification expected very soon.

Follow us on Instagram for more, @vassefelixwines.

17/02/2021 at 3:43 PM Permalink

Vintage 2021 Photo Essay | Deciding to Harvest

In the lead up to harvest, our viticulture team regularly bring in samples of fruit from all four of our Margaret River vineyards for the Winery team to measure, among other things, the Baumé - sugar and ripeness - of our fruit and thus the progress of the ripening journey. 

This is how key decisions are made on when and where we will next be harvesting - which blocks are perfectly ripe and which need just that little extra time on vine.

Follow us on Instagram for more, @vassefelixwines.

12/02/2021 at 8:28 PM Permalink