'Son of' the Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon. It carries the structure, power and tannins of classic Cabernet in an earlier drinking, succulent style from fruit sourced from each of the Vasse Felix vineyards.
Similar to the previous season, the 2018 vintage experienced cooler than average conditions. Spring and early Summer delivered intermittent cool then moderate weeks before a run of below average temperatures in January and February. Late January rain led to a fear of disease, however a beautiful period of ripening followed with ample sunshine and strong daily sea breezes preserving vibrant fruit flavours and acidity. Our white varieties ripened with ideal sugar levels and high malic acid content for the third year running, resulting in a desire to allow some natural malolactic ferment in our Chardonnays. Meanwhile, the reds ripened slowly and gently through a dry Autumn ensuring fully developed tannins and a slightly riper and fleshier fruit profile to 2017.
94 points + Special Value Rating
Should we talk about 2018 again ...? It was clearly the greatest cabernet vintage in Margaret River’s history, a fact never more obvious than when on show in the region’s entry-level wines. This is the youngest brother in the family of cabernets at Vasse and has built a loyal following for its supple deliciousness and accessibility (both in price and quality). So: wild raspberry, red licorice, pomegranate, kelp, iodine, crushed pepper, spicy oak and the all important saline acid. The vintage has contributed a fruit power that gives the wine great length of flavour.
93 Points
Remarkable that a wine of this quality can be turned out at this price. Black olive and blackcurrant fruit, presented with controlled elegance.
91 Points
Vibrant with ripe dark fruit, dark cherry, vanilla, mineral and toasty, spicy flavours on the palate.
92 Points
This wine is a proper cabernet sauvignon that will age well with concentrated fruits and good underlying structure. Deeply coloured it starts with vibrant leafy/cedary aromatics well supported by red and blackcurrant fruits plus old oak in the background. The palate is dry and juicy but then with a classically firm cabernet sauvignon backbone showing sinewy tannins that help to draw out a relatively long finish.