REVIEWS & AWARDS: LANGTONS OUTSTANDING, 98 RAY JORDAN, 97 JAMES SUCKLING, 96 HALLIDAY
This is the third most highly rated Margaret River wine (based on critic scores).
Critic tasting note: (2017 vintage) "(2022) The coolest and latest vintage for a decade, with delayed ripening and good acid retention. January and February so both warm sunshine and some rain, but a warm March and the driest April since 1982 so excellent ripening of red varieties. 82% Cab with 17% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot, it spent 19 months in French oak, 61% new. More dense in colour, but far from opaque, running to pale pink on the rim. Quite closed, gravelly and olive scented, a hint of mint and showing that elegant and precise side of Cabernet, some exotic cigar box and Sandalwood spice. In the mouth the wine fleshes out immediately, sweet and ripe, the plushness surprises after the strictness of the aromatics, filling the mouth with plump blackcurrant, but then the edge begins to come through, really taut, succulent tannins and acids give this authority, but the wine has great drive and focus, finishing on fruit and suggesting great potential once again." - 96/100, Tom Cannavan
Vasse Felix, Margaret River’s founding wine estate, was established by Dr Thomas Brendan Cullity in 1967. Among his first plantings were Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec vines, from which he produced the estate’s first red wine. The Tom Cullity descends from these original vines and represents the purest expression of our history, place and vintage; the pinnacle of Vasse Felix.
Winemaking
The small sections of Tom’s old blocks were hand-harvested and destemmed only, without crushing, and then fermented with their natural yeast. The Cabernet parcels were static fermented, gently pumped over through a splash tub, and then left on skins for up to 33 days to stabilise and make structurally sound in an exceptional ripening year with quality tannins. The Petit Verdot, Malbec and some Cabernet Sauvignon were open fermented, hand-plunged and pressed dry. All basket pressed only.
Ageing
French Oak Barrique 59% new, 41% 2-4 year old 18 months.
