Vasse Felix was established by physician Tom Cullity in 1967. His cabernet sauvignon cuttings were sourced from a cold store belonging to the WA Department of Agriculture. Although not rootlings, the first plantings were 98% successful. These Houghton ‘Mass Selection’ material is valuable heirloom vinestock and the Heritage Old Vine – Tom Cullity Block at Vasse Felix in the Wilyabrup sub-region are the oldest surviving cabernet sauvignon vines in Margaret River. Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon is generally regarded as one of the region’s top cellaring styles while the standard cabernet sauvignon releases, aged in seasoned oak, are exemplary examples of regional expression. Winemaker Virgina Willcock has refined the style to promote the transparency of vintage and the nuances of the growing season. Meticulous attention to detail and imaginative winemaking underpin her exceptional talents. The winery is remarkably tidy and organised. No problem eating bacon and eggs off the winery floor. Winemaking skill combined with a beautifully sited and vineyard estate lead to wines of superb definition and character. The latest 2023 Tom Cullity (Houghton clone )and Heytesbury (Gingin clone) releases are exceptional and further confirm these classical wines are benchmark/ reference styles. These wines were all tasted at a recent IWSC presentation in Margaret River.
… wines of superb definition and character.
2023 Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River – Western Australia
Medium deep crimson. Intense blackcurrant marzipan aromas with hints of cedar and spice. Beautifully concentrated cassis, dark plum fruits, firm cedary textures and underlying marzipan, vanilla oak notes. A love tannin plume at the finish with bittersweet chinotto notes. Generous, impactful and classical with lovely vigour and flow. Drink now – 2038+ 97 points
2022 Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River – Western Australia
Medium deep crimson. Pure blackcurrant, hint violet, touch marzipan, roasted chestnut, aromas with cedar, star anise notes. A touch sinewy in texture, but voluminous, with ample cassis, praline, roasted chestnut flavours, fine grained/ touch grippy tannins and pure racy freshness. Finishes bittersweet. Drink now – 2035 95 points
2021 Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River – Western Australia
Medium deep crimson. Superb blackberry, cassis, praline, touch of rose garden aromas. Beautifully complex blackcurrant, pure cassis, dark chocolaty/ graphite tannins with underlying cedarwood, some vanilla, marzipan notes. Lovely firm finish with tannin plume. Beautifully balanced wine with perfect balance and resonance. Drink now – 2038 98 points
2020 Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River – Western Australia
Medium deep crimson. Fresh espresso, blackcurrant, dark cherry aromas and flavours with hints of cigar box/ herb garden. chocolaty firm tannins, superb mid-palate volume and fresh long mineral acidity. Some al dente/ leafy notes at the finish with chinotto notes. Drink now – 2035 96 points
2020 Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River – Western Australia
Medium deep crimson. Fresh espresso, blackcurrant, dark cherry aromas and flavours with hints of cigar box/ herb garden. chocolaty firm tannins, superb mid-palate volume and fresh long mineral acidity. Some al dente/ leafy notes at the finish with chinotto notes. Drink now – 2035 96 points
2023 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River – Western Australia
Medium deep crimson. Intense crème de cassis, strawberry, roasted walnut/ roasted chestnut aromas with herb notes. Generously concentrated cassis, dark plum, touch chinotto flavours, fine slinky textures, beautiful mid-palate richness and underlying roasted walnut notes. Firm gravelly finish. Lovely freshness, juiciness and gentle vigour; the mineral acidity lengthening the palate. Drink now – 2032 14% alc 95 points
2023 Vasse Felix GRE2 Single plot Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River – Western Australia
Medium deep crimson. Pure blackcurrant pastille, leafy, chinotto aromas and flavours with roasted walnut notes. Well concentrated and generous in flavour with firm slightly ironstone/ rusty tannins. Firm claret-like finish with persistent dark berry fruits. Drink now – 2032 93 points
2024 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River – Western Australia
Pale colour., Classical pure grapefruit glacé, nectarine, flinty/ gunsmoke aromas with camomile notes. Beautifully concentrated grapefruit glacé, yellow fruits, tonic water flavours, looseknit chalky/ al dente textures, some flinty notes and fresh persistent quartz/ acidity. Al dente textures which build to the finish extend the palate. Beautiful wine with superb energy, suppleness and torque. Drink now – 2035 13.5% alc 99 points
2023 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River – Western Australia
Pale colour. Beautiful pure grapefruit lemon, lemon grass touch aniseed aromas with underlying marzipan notes. Well concentrated lemon curd, grapefruit glace flavours, fine looseknit chalky textures and fresh bright long acidity. Some tonic water notes at the finish with gentle torque at the finish. Exceptional. Drink now – 2034 98 points
2022 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River – Western Australia
Pale colour. Sweet ripe peach, grapefruit, honey dew melon, honey aromas with herb garden notes. Richly concentrated peach grapefruit glace flavours, fine bittersweet textures, love creaminess and underlying marzipan notes. Crispy finish. Drink now – 2034 97 points
2021 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River – Western Australia
Pale colour. Nectarine, white peach, tonic water aromas with hints of limes, vanilla and marzipan. Generous creamy palate with nectarine peach, lemon curd flavours, lacy/ al dente textures, some underlying vanilla notes and fresh cutting acidity. Drink now – 2032 95 points
2020 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River – Western Australia
Pale colour, Flinty, grapefruit, lemon curd, honey aromas and flavours, fine looseknit /lacy textures, tonic water notes, some apricot glacé notes, well balanced marzipan notes and attractive mineral length Touch grippy at the finish with bittersweet, lemon/ grapefruit notes. Very textural wine. Drink now – keep for a while. 96 points
