Description

Vasse Felix became Margaret River‘s founding wine estate when Dr. Tom Cullity first planted vines in the region back in 1967!  We visited the winery in January of 2019 and were treated to a very special tasting of the portfolio.  Since then we have always looked forward to the new releases of the Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon, which we feel was one of the standout values discovered on our trip.

The winery is located in the Wilyabrup region of Margaret River near the town of Cowaramup, and is almost a microcosm of Bordeaux as the soils are all alluvial based, and the climate is influenced by the Indian Ocean only a few miles away.  More specifically, this is the very same area where we  found other outstanding wines from Xanadu, Howard Park, and Cullen.  It certainly seems to be ground zero for the finest Cabernet Sauvignon produced in Margaret River.

85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot.  French oak barrique, 100% 1-5 year old (10% new), 12 months average.  14.5% alcohol.

Winemaker’s notes:  A remarkably ripe and soft wine. The individual batches were destemmed and fermented as whole berries using only wild yeast residing on the fruit. Cabernet parcels underwent a suitable duration of maceration to extract a fine backbone of structural tannins and blackcurrant laden fruit. Malbec and Petit Verdot were pressed off skins earlier to maintain a soft and luscious mouth feel. The resulting wines were matured in fine French oak for 12 months prior to blending. Limited racking was used to help preserve the delicate wild characters captured in this low intervention approach.

“Blackcurrants, sage and hints of fresh herbs on the nose. Medium-bodied. Firm tannins and a fresh, vivid finish. Linear and delicious. Drink now.” – 92 points, James Suckling