The 2024 Margaret River growing season was warm, dry and compact with picking taking place four weeks earlier than the average. The widespread and abundant flowering of Marri trees kept the birds busy and away from the vineyards. It was a short and sharp vintage but the results are brilliant, aided by Virginia Willcock’s and her team’s exceptional winemaking skills.
Heytesbury is an example of purity and precision, while the standard chardonnay (based on primarily gin gin clone) is more that standard. It’s an exceptional release that offers a classic Margaret River Chardonnay experience. The Single Plot DHH1 Chardonnay, from five-year-old plantings in Wallcliffe, is more than half-decent but is caught between the Ying and the Yang. Nonetheless this is an exceptional release and highlight’s Vasse Felix’s leading edge.
Nonetheless this is an exceptional release and highlights Vasse Felix’s leading edge.
2024 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River – Western Australia
Pale colour. Lovely pure grapefruit nectarine tonic water aromas with hints of marzipan. Supple and minerally with ample grapefruit, lemon curd, nectarine flavours, fine looseknit chalky textures, attractive mid palate richness, a touch of vanilla/ marzipan and underlying saline/ crunchy acidity. Super long and tangy at the finish, giving the wine freshness and mineral length. Will develop further with bottle age. A reference Margaret River Chardonnay. Maturation in French oak barriques (85%) and puncheons (15%). Roughly 53% new and 47% seasoned barrels for 10 months and a further 6 months in tank. Drink now – 2040. 13.5% alc 98 points
2024 Vasse Felix Single Plot DHH1 Chardonnay, Margaret River – Western Australia
Pale colour. Lifted and expressive grapefruit, white peach, hint grilled nut aromas with tonic water notes. Bittersweet palate with ample grapefruit, lime, lemon pastille fruits, fine lacy/ touch al-dente textures, very good overall richness and long indelible/ cutting acidity. Bitter lemon/ lime notes with a phenolic twist at the finish. Refreshing and engaging style. Ready to drink. 11 months maturation in seasoned French oak barriques. Drink now – 2032 13.5% alc 94 points
2024 Vasse Felix Chardonnay, Margaret River – Western Australia
Pale colour. Intense grapefruit, yellow peach, nectarine, hint vanilla aromas with bitter lemon notes. Creamy and expressive with ample pure grapefruit, ripe peach, marzipan, flavours, fine slinky/ light chalky textures, lovely mid-plate viscosity and well-balanced fresh acidity. Some toasty complexity at the finish. This is about as good as it gets with this price point. 10 months maturation in 30% and seasoned French oak barriques followed by five months in tank. A great success. Punches well above its price point. Drink now – keep for a while. 13.5% alc 96+ points
