2021 Vasse Felix Margaret River Chardonnay
Grape
Chardonnay
Its Origins
As the moderate climate of Margaret River is becoming Australia’s centre of premium winemaking, Vasse Felix are leading the pack in recognition and can, in fact, lay claim to having been there first. It was the founder Dr Thomas Cullity whose planting experiments were confirmed when in 1966 experts identified Margaret River as a near homoclime (same climate as) Bordeaux. Luckily those commissioning the studies, and the local newspaper that published the details, had no idea how significant they were, and in 1967 Cullity had little competition in finding the best site - which he cleverly did in redgum country with red gravel above and clay lying below. Here at Margaret River’s first vineyard, Vasse Felix, he planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec and Riesling. The latter variety was to be the label’s first success (in 1972), showing the white wine promise of the cooler Margaret River, which is now as famous for Chardonnay as it is for Cabernet Sauvignon. Regarding Cabernet itself - which is the winery’s flagship - the acknowledged experts at Vasse Felix have a distinctive take on this variety, revealing the elegant and aromatic nature of the grape so that that at times it seems to compare as much to Burgundy as it does to Bordeaux. With an established reputation but also the strictest artisanship and organic, sustainable practices - including being on the cutting edge of industrial recycling - Vasse Felix are not only masters of their art, but stayers in the game.
What The Critics Say
93/100 The Wine Front, Gary Walsh
"Golden colour. Mint and white chocolate, spicy oak, pear and melon. A bit saline and savoury, butterscotch, some ripe lime flavour and acidity, dusty and flinty texture, nutty and a pleasingly oxidative, with a long finish. Complex and different, and given I’m writing for a Winefront audience, you might not mind me saying it’s a bit of a Mâcon v Margs mashup. I really like it." Drink 2023 - 2029
93/100 James Suckling
"Fresh and creamy with aromas of white grapefruit, thyme, lemons, sourdough and hazelnuts. Medium-bodied with beautiful depth of ripe citrus and stone fruit and a lengthy, creamy finish. Drink now or hold. Screw cap."
95/100 Halliday's Wine Companion, Erin Larkin (2019 vintage)
"86/14% Gingin clone/Dijon clones 95, 96 and 77 from Boodjidup, Wilyabrup and Karridale. Full-solids style, 100% wild ferment, 9 months on lees in French oak barrique (39% new). Each year this wine presents an amalgam of creamy, chewy phenolics, ripe yet nervy fruit and exotic spice. The balance of these things depends on the year. In 2019, it's creamy and saline with white peach and fennel flower. Gorgeous stuff.
Variety | Chardonnay |
---|---|
Region | Western Australia |
Closure | Cap |
Volume | 750ml |
Alcohol | 12.50% |
Maturity | 2023 - 2029 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
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