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Vasse Felix

http://www.vassefelix.com.au/

Planted in 1967 Vasse Felix is the oldest vineyard in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia. Long growing seasons ancient soils and cooling sea breezes from the Southern and Indian Oceans provide the Vasse Felix vineyards with ideal viticultural conditions to craft consistent elegant and complex wines with pronounced varietal character and aroma.
Family owned and operated by the Holmes a Court family, Vasse Felix is one of the most highly visited wine destinations in Australia. A unique underground cellar a spectacular restaurant overlooking the original 1967 plantings and an exquisite art gallery makes Vasse Felix one of the great family owned drawcards of the Margaret River Region

Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Thoroughly beautiful example of Margaret River Cabernet, this. From the seductive perfumed bouquet to the poised and deliciously succulent palate it's all Cabernet class. Love the mix of mint and blackcurrant with the cedary oak and fine powdery tannins. One of the best yet in this distinguished line.

Score:95/100

Margaret River Chardonnay 2008 ($25)

Elegant and almost restrained modern style of clean crisp Chardonnay concealing plenty of underlying power and depth. Sneaky little wine that will creak up on you with its enticing mix of nuts and honey richness sustained with a fine crisp acid. Balanced and poised.

Score:91/100

Margaret River Semillon 2008 ($25)

Wonderful example of this strangely unfashionable variety. Aromatic herbal, lemon and subtle fresh mown grassy characters on the nose. Beautifully fine, intense and persistent palate. Drink this and then ask why more people don't get into it.

Score:92/100

Heytesbury Cabernet 2004 ($65)

Gosh this is a good wine. The first sniff of violets, blue berry mint and black currant are immediately captivating. The palate has a silky fine structure. It's elegant and stylish with a long seamless palate finish. One of the best yet under this label.

Score:96/100

Heytesbury Chardonnay 2005 ($40)

Wonderfully complex and elegant example of the variety showing the continued refinements and improvement of Chardonnays from this famous red producer of Margaret River. Aroma is an intricate mix of spice, lemon and tart grapefruit. The palate is stunning with control and focus and a sustained intense and tight finish. A beauty.

Score:94/100

Classic Dry White 2007 ($20)

A blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc in a style that goes right back to 1989. This is another cracker and at the time of tasting was just coming out of its bottling shell. Sprightly and zesty with a lively fresh palate. Zingy acid and excellent length. Great drinking over the next 12 months.

Score:90/100

Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 ($38)

There’s a remarkable purity about this wine from the first sniff through to the last hint of the finish. Its pure Cabernet essence integrated with a delightful cedary oak. Balanced and poised and displaying class and sophistication. Love the perfumed notes on the nose while the palate delivers with effortless ease to a long finish.

Score:96/100
Cellar:10 years

Heytesbury Margaret River Chardonnay 2007 ($45)

A most sophisticated Chardonnay that is the flagship white from Vasse Felix. There is enormous concentration of complex flavours of meal, grapefruit, brioche and roasted cashew all controlled with a fine persistent acid. It's still tight yet balanced and will deliver supremely in a few more years.

Score:95/100
Cellar:6 years

Classic Dry White Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2009

A lively and punchy fruit driven blend of these two varieties. The vintage produced fruit that combines delicacy with intensity and this is captured here perfectly. A little splash of lime juice lifts the finish with that sustaining acid a feature.

Score:90/100
Cellar:3 years
New Release May 2010

Heytesbury 2007 ($70)

This is simply awesome. It’s a blend of Cabernet Petit Verdot and Malbec. It’s powerful and controlled at the same time with masses of deep concentrated cabernet wrapped up in some exceptional fine grained oak. The tannins are grainy and supple with the fruit displaying great richness and texture. This is a real statement of the Margaret River red at its finest.

Score:96/100
Cellar:10 years
New Releases June 2010