Two classic wines from Margaret River’s Vasse Felix
Vasse Felix wines embody the Margaret River region, striving to honour Dr Tom Cullity’s mission of making the very best wines in the world.
Cabernet and Chardonnay play a vital role in Margaret River’s history; the ‘Filius’, meaning ‘son of’, are the more affordable offerings from this family-owned winery renowned for its precious vineyards, exceptional quality, and a treasured heritage.
Vasse Felix’s winemaking is founded on the principles that great wines begin in the vineyard and must be true to the region and site. The grapes are treated with minimal interference and crafted in a state-of-the-art winery, perched above the Wilyabrup Brook.
These wines are the result of the hard work of a devoted team and Virginia Willcock, the head winemaker whose expertise and experience is unrivalled in the region.
2021 Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay, (£18.99 from The Guildford Wine Company, Christopher Piper Wines (Devon), 2020 vintage from Bon Coeur)
They say:
A vibrant and modern Chardonnay with pure fruit, wild ferment complexities, and refreshing natural acidity. This is an earlier drinking style with alluring savoury nuances from Vasse Felix’s quality-led, minimal intervention approach.
The fruit, sourced from multiple vineyards, was light in body and fruit weight resulting in more delicate fruit flavours.
The wine was fermented naturally and uses judicious amounts of French oak barrels and battonage tailored to each individual parcel.
Seven months of oak maturation followed before the individual components were blended to create this harmonious chardonnay.
Ready to enjoy now, serve as a refreshing aperitif on a warm day or pair it with summer fare such as seafood, poultry, and lighter meats, as well as creamy sauces and dishes with a hint of butter. Try it with grilled salmon, roasted chicken, or scallops in a cream sauce.
I say:
12.5%
pale green-gold; honeysuckle, citrus and yellow stone fruits with delicate spices; fresh and supple with melon, pineapple, ripe orchard fruits and line marmalade; savoury leesy complexity with nutty oatmeal. Harmonious and adept.
Good.
A versatile food wine, serve with a range of starters or white meat, seafood or cheeses.
2019 Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Merlot, (£14.99, Majestic)
They say:
A youthful regional blend with the elegance and structure of a classic West Australian Cabernet in a bright, earlier drinking style. Generous portions of Merlot contribute to a succulent wine with approachable tannins.
After the grapes were picked and destemmed, they were left to soak for several days in steel fermenters before the wild fermentation began. The individual lots are aged in French oak barrels prior to final blending.
The result has an inviting perfume of red berry custard and spring garden aromas. It is deliciously succulent on the palate with wild berry fruits of the forest and forest mushroom overtone.
Summer brings with it fresh, seasonal ingredients and this wine pairs well with vegetable salads, grilled lamb, full-flavoured hard cheese, or something simple such as a pasta dish with a basil and tomato sauce.
I say:
14.5%
translucent ruby garnet with some paleness to the rim and bricking; bramble fruits, dried green herbs, complex oaky spices and old leather with some aged sous bois character; fresh, harmonious and complex with bramble fruits, red and black cherries and supple, well-integrated tannins. Slightly warming on the finish.
Good.
Drinks nicely on first opining; can be chaired slightly and will take some further cellaring for a more aged character.
Match with darker game, such as venison sausages.
