Vasse Felix Chardonnay
2014 Vintage
Barry Weinman: 18th October 2015
In her time as winemaker, Virginia Wilcock has consistently produced wines of such high quality that Vasse Felix now rightly sits as one of the top few wineries in the Margaret River Region.
For several years now, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay released under the Heytesbury label have each been in my top five wines produced in the region.
In 2014, the whole range excelled, from the entry level Filius (Green Capsule), the Premier Chardonnay (Gold Capsule) to the super-premium Heytesbury (White Capsule).
Reviewed
Vasse Felix – Chardonnay – Filius – 2014 (17.7). A neutral, relatively taut rendition of Chardonnay. This is in the modern, earlier harvest style, with subtle fruit and refreshing acidity. The oak is nearly invisible. With a little air, the fruit builds, providing excellent drinking. Despite being the “entry level” wine, this should fill out with a year or two in the bottle. (RRP $25).
Vasse Felix – Chardonnay – Premier – 2014 (18). In many respects, this is the most approachable of the new releases, offering quality fruit and texturing winemaking influences. The fruit builds depth in the glass. A high quality wine that provides excellent current drinking. (RRP $35).
Vasse Felix – Chardonnay – Heytesbury – 2014 (18.5+). A complex nose, with stone fruit characters over creamy oak and barrel ferment notes. The fruit is refined yet intense on the palate, the oak adding lovely mouth-feel and texture. Near seamless, this is a lovely wine of great intensity. The finish is very long and integrated, with a touch of viscosity and richness. This powerhouse wine will be even better with a couple of years in bottle. (RRP $ 70).