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Australian Winery
Australian Winery
Vasse Felix was established in 1967, here's a snapshot of some milestones throughout history that have contributed to the Estate you experience today .
THE REPORTS
Following Professor Harold Olmo's (University of California Davis) report recommending Australia's south-west to plant wine
1966 grapes, Dr John Gladstones (University of Western Australia) publishes a report isolating the Margaret River cape for it's climatic
similarities to Bordeaux. His report was published in the local Margaret River newspaper.
FIRST VINTAGE
The first vintage, off 4 year-old vines, was in 1971. The harvest was a disaster due to bunch-rot and silver-eyes (native birds). The
1971 winery vats and machinery were built and purchased in the preceding months.
"I will not forget the exhaustion and disappointment." Dr Thomas Cullity
FIRST WINES
The first Vasse Felix - and Margaret River - wines are made and included a Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling.
1972 "In 1972, off a small crop, we produced a Riesling wine that created quite a stir at the Perth Show [it won a gold medal]... It
was this wine and the subsequent publicity that brought Margaret River wines to the attention of the Australian public. We had
similar success with the Cabernet Sauvignon in 1973." Dr Thomas Cullity.
David Gregg is appointed winemaker of Vasse Felix. (Pictured centre, newspaper article, 1973).
FIRST HEYTESBURY
The first Heytesbury is made, and is a runner up for the Jimmy Watson Trophy at the Melbourne Royal Wine Show in 1996.
1995
In 1996 a Reserve Chardonnay is made and is relabelled as Heytesbury Chardonnay in 1997.
The vineyard is a specialty site for white varieties Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Vasse Felix is the first Margaret River and West Australian winery to receive the US publication’s award, surpassing estates from
major international regions, including Stellenbosch (De Toren), Auckland (Kumeu River), Argentina (Trapiche) and Chile (Vina
2018 Ventisquero) to receive the coveted award.
The largest of all the Vasse Felix vineyards, this site was
planted in 1998 in the warmer, Carbunup area of Margaret
River. The vineyard grows fruit with ripeness, approachability
and generosity of flavour, ideal for Vasse Felix’s Regional
(Filius) wines and all-occasions Classic Collection wines.
Our wines reflect the strengths of Margaret River, with a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, as
well as Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon blends. Each parcel of fruit is vinified with minimal
intervention and bottled within our modern winery, situated at our Home Vineyard overlooking the Wilyabrup
Brook.
Our winemaking philosophy is founded on the beliefs that great wines are made in the vineyard, must be
authentic expressions of their place, and are the work of a great team of passionate people.
As Margaret River's leading varieties, Cabernet and Chardonnay are naturally our principal focus.
TOM CULLITY
VARIETALS:
The flagship Cabernet 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Malbec,
Sauvignon made at Vasse 1% Petit Verdot
ALCOHOL:
Felix, Margaret River's
14.5
founding wine estate. It is CELLARING POTENTIAL:
made in honour of Dr Approachable on release at four years of
Thomas Brendan Cullity age. 20+ years for elegant and savoury
aged Cabernet Sauvignon.
who established Vasse Felix HARVESTED:
in 1967. Among his first 7-24 April 2017
plantings were Cabernet OAK:
French Oak Barrique, 61% new, 39% 1-4
Sauvignon and Malbec
year old, 19 months
vines, from which he TA:
produced the Estate’s first 6.1g/L
red wine. The Tom Cullity PH:
3.52
descends from these original RESIDUAL SUGAR:
vines and represents the 0.37g/L
pinnacle of Vasse Felix. BOTTLED:
February 2019
TOM CULLITY
COLOUR
Vintage
A lovely, translucent ruby.
Description
2017 was a cooler and later vintage than the previous 10
NOSE
years; a year of elegant, structural, slightly lighter
The tightly intermingled perfume carries Tom’s Block
bodied wines; though ripe in flavour, vibrant and very
characters of savoury tobacco, earthy forest and nori-
perfumed. Higher than average yields in combination
like ocean breeze. Delicate red berry notes move into
with a cooler season contributed to delayed ripening of
savoury tones of cherry pip, mushroom, white clay, brie
the fruit and good retention of acidity. Some timely
rind and tamari. A floral fragrance of violets frames this
warmth and sunshine occurred throughout January,
elegant vintage.
although February temperatures remained moderate with
some rainfall. With the cooler weather, canopy
PALATE
management and fruit thinning was imperative to
A restrained and ethereal rendition of Margaret River
mitigate disease pressures and allow for even, persistent
Cabernet, the body is plush and shapely, with lovely red
ripening. There was a warm start to March to finish the
berry fruit characters and super fine, talc-like tannins of
white harvest, followed by the driest April since 1982,
unbelievable length. Graceful and sophisticated with a
allowing the reds to ripen beautifully.
savoury core, the delicate complexity of perfumes linger
on the long, drying finish.
Heytesbury Chardonnay
COLOUR VARIETALS:
A selection of the Bright pale deep straw. 100% Gingin Clone Chardonnay
most unique and ALCOHOL:
striking vineyard NOSE 13.0
Fine perfumes of floral talc, pink CELLARING POTENTIAL:
plots, recognised 7 years (fresh), 7+ years for complex,
grapefruit, lime blossom and lemongrass
for its innovative tea mingle with exciting savoury aged Chardonnay
winemaking, al limestone and oyster shell complexities HARVESTED:
reminiscent of the coast. Intriguing notes Feb - March 2019
dente ripeness and OAK:
of classic flint, struck match, candlewax
distinguishing and fresh white leather round out this French Oak Barrique, 61% new, 39%
‘Heytesbury’ captivating aroma. 1-4 year old, 9 months
character. TA:
PALATE 6.7g/L
A strong central line of acidity holds PH:
tension in this juicy body of fruit, 3.14
supported by incredible phenolic powder. RESIDUAL SUGAR:
Nervy and taut, the pithy feel of flinty 0.87g/L
stone, lime and pink grapefruit continue to BOTTLED:
give breath to the long Heytesbury finish. May 2020
2019 Filius Chardonnay
VARIETALS:
Vasse Felix Chardonnay COLOUR Bright pale straw 100% Chardonnay
is typified by its bright, colour. ALCOHOL:
elegant fruit, subtle wild 12.5
NOSE Fragrant notes of white CELLARING POTENTIAL:
complexities, tight
fleshed stone fruit, granny smith Now until 2025
structure and fresh apple, custard and citrus HARVESTED:
acidity, reflecting the blossom. Elegant aromas of Late February 2019
vibrancy and purity of lovely nutty fruit muesli, Danish OAK:
this variety in Margaret pastry and a hint of spicy ginger French Oak Barriques, 13%
River. ‘Filius’ translates evoke complexity throughout. new, 17% 1 year old, 70% 2-5
to ‘son of’ in Latin, year old, 8 months
PALATE A soft and creamy TA:
reflecting the
entrance with elevated pear 6.6g/L
relationship between this custard, white peach and almond PH:
wine and its Premier flavours builds to reveal a lovely 3.27
‘father’. fresh acidity and a dry, toasted RESIDUAL SUGAR:
muesli finish. 1.5g/L
BOTTLED:
January 2020
Idée Fixe Brut Rosé 6btls
The curious sibling to Idée Fixe An elegant Rosé of vibrant, light-salmon
Premier Brut, this Brut Rosé is crafted hues. At the first pour, a distinct VARIETIES
from estate-grown Chardonnay, with a gunsmoke scent 91% Chardonnay
small portion of Pinot Noir. drifts away to reveal floral layers of pink 9% Pinot Noir
and orange roses, exotic Western ALCOHOL
An elegant Rosé of vibrant, light- Australian 12.0%
salmon hues. At the first pour, a Brown Boronia and wild strawberries. RESIDUAL
distinct gunsmoke scent drifts away to These evolve into pear, dried orange rind, SUGAR
reveal floral layers of pink and orange bread crust, 6.0g/L
roses, exotic Western Australian Sandalwood and Jamon, hinting at REGION
Brown Boronia and wild strawberries. nuances of aged French oak. Brut Rosé Margaret River
These evolve into pear, dried orange dazzles the
rind, bread crust, Sandalwood and palate with its softly creaming bead, fine,
Jamon, hinting at nuances of aged vivacious mousse and light, textural
French oak. Brut Rosé dazzles the tannins.
palate with its softly creaming bead, Enticing flavours of strawberry tart,
fine, vivacious mousse and light, blood orange, Aperol and rhubarb linger.
textural tannins. Enticing flavours of Idée Fixe Brut Rosé is a fetching aperitif
strawberry tart, blood orange, Aperol or the perfect accompaniment to
and rhubarb linger. glazed salmon, roast duck or triple cream
brie on fresh crusty bread.
2018 Cabernet Sauvignon
COLOUR VARIETALS:
The Premier Bright and deep ruby. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit
Cabernet Sauvignon Verdot, 2% Malbec
of Vasse Felix. This NOSE ALCOHOL:
A loaded and dense perfume of 14.5
wine’s distinctive cassis, licorice and strawberry sorbet CELLARING POTENTIAL:
style possesses all is deepened by ocean scents of dried 12 years (fresh) 12+ years for savoury,
the hallmarks of the shells and crayfish bisque. Ironstone elegant aged Cabernet Sauvignon.
finest Margaret rock brings earthy notes which give HARVESTED:
River Cabernet; way to dried rose petal and vanilla March - April 2018
elegance, generosity butter intrigue. OAK:
and ageability. Made French Oak Barrique 44% new, 56% 1-4
PALATE year old, 18 months
every year since So intense, tight, lengthy and TA:
1972, it is Margaret exciting. A fresh and succulent entry 6.5g/L
River’s archetypal pulls inward with firm, linear tannins PH:
Cabernet driving the flavours long. Fresh 3.56
Sauvignon. raspberry, wood spice, vanilla and RESIDUAL SUGAR:
peanut complexities linger. 0.69g/L
BOTTLED:
January 2020
Shiraz
VARIETALS:
COLOUR
Although our 100% Shiraz
Bright deep maroon.
ALCOHOL:
commitment to Shiraz is
14
historic - with the oldest NOSE
CELLARING
Shiraz vines in Margaret A complex perfume of black cherry and
POTENTIAL:
River - the Vasse Felix boysenberry, underpinned with an
Now until 2023
endearing pastrami note. Beautiful notes
Shiraz style is modern, HARVESTED:
of rose petal potpourri and Chinese black
cool climate elegance. March - April 2018
tea open to hints of English cheddar and
Wild fermented in small OAK:
teak wax.
French Oak Barrique, 7%
batches, the wine's
new, 93% 1-6 year old, 11
complexity is deep and PALATE
months
true to its unique A luscious entrance with bright, tangy
TA:
environment. Only the raspberry, black cherries and notes of
6.3g/L
liquorice and vanilla. The stems bring a
highest grade vineyard PH:
lovely mineral sensation with a velvety
sections make this fine, 3.57
tannin polish, leaving the finish fresh and
small volume Shiraz. RESIDUAL SUGAR:
dry.
0.38g/L
BOTTLED:
June 2019
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Competitors of Vasse Felix
Cape Mentelle
Goundrey Wines
Lindemans
Lakes Folly
Cullen Wines
De Bortoli
Penfolds
Seppelt