Vasse Felix
Established in 1967, 'Female Winemaker of the Year 2017' Virginia Wilcock currently presides over one of the founding wineries of Margaret River. Naturally, the early bird catches the worm and Wilcock is currently crafting exceptional cuvées from the very best terroirs across the appellation her label helped to establish. Combining her considerable talent with soil, vine and climate, her wines seem to be progressively more extraordinary with each passing vintage, surmounting previous heights few imagined possible.
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Western Australia | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£192.04 |
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Western Australia | 2 | 96 (HWC) |
Inc. VAT
£180.04 |
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Halliday Wine Companion (96)Bright crimson-purple; this has provenance written large across its visage, likewise purity. Restructuring of the Vasse Felix offers to the market has lifted, not compromised, this dark, fruit-filled cabernet. |
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Western Australia | 1 | 91 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£179.09 |
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Vinous (91)Deep ruby. Vibrant, spice-accented red and blue fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of cigar box and candied flowers. In a juicy, energetic style, showing very good clarity to the bitter cherry and cassis flavors. Turns sweeter with air and finishes long and smooth, with just a hint of fine-grained tannins. |
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Western Australia | 1 | 97 (JS) |
Inc. VAT
£92.00 |
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James Suckling (97)A very complex flinty and hazelnut style that has a strong play of fine French oak on the nose. Plenty of layers to the aromas here from white peaches and nectarine fruits to grapefruit and lemons. Immense grapefruit and citrus depth on the palate with warm oak spices and well-layered savory threads. Long and effortless power. Drink now. Screw cap. |
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Western Australia | 1 | 97 (WE) |
Inc. VAT
£450.04 |
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Wine Enthusiast (97)One of the most renowned Chardonnays in Australia, the latest release is a knockout. A cool vintage allowed for gorgeous natural acidity and bright fruit to shine. Being the most cellarworthy of the Vasse Chards, Heytesbury is always structuredand more oak driven when young. It opens with heady aromas of toasted nuts, flint, seashell, vanilla pod and a seaweed-like umami note amid melon and lemon curd. The palate is fabulously fresh with textural complexity, and lingering nut, saline and citrusnotes on the lengthy finish. |
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Western Australia | 1 | 98 (TRR) |
Inc. VAT
£348.04 |
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The Real Review (98)Bright mid-yellow colour, with an exuberant bouquet of grapefruit, cashew nuts and a faint smoky patina, the palate likewise flavoured and singing with a superb purity. Great refinement, intensity, line and length. A finesse wine, the grapefruit flavour so concentrated it gives an impression of sweetness—which of course it has none. A stunning chardonnay. |
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Western Australia | 1 | 98 (HWC) |
Inc. VAT
£375.14 |
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Halliday Wine Companion (98)It’s been a joy to watch the evolution of Heytesbury over the past decade or so, as it's one of the great Australian chardonnays. Whatever vintage conditions have thrown at it, and with tweaks along the way, the nucleus remains steadfast: quality, excellent fruit and a second-to-none level of detail in the winemaking. This is an evocative wine. Pristine and sublime. Funky sulphides rockin’ it while a gossamer thread of acidity holds everything in line – the citrus flavours, the texture, the wine totally enveloping the oak and, while it’s a powerhouse of flavour, there’s a purity to this. It’s such a contrast. How does it achieve that? |
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Western Australia | 7 | 97 (HWC) |
Inc. VAT
£374.44 |
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Halliday Wine Companion (97)If one wine typifies the current state of Australian chardonnay (complex, superfine, detailed and majestic) as much as a wine of place, Heytesbury could possibly be it. There’s a lot of fruit power this vintage, yet still, a tightly coiled style in youth. A millefeuille of flavour – grapefruit, lemon salt, white nectarine and complex savoury nuances, the oak and lees folded into the wine. There’s an intriguing zinc character too, a little flinty and funky with mouth-watering acidity. Moreish and compelling all the way through. Mesmerising. |
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Western Australia | 1 | 98 (TRR) |
Inc. VAT
£739.24 |
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The Real Review (98)Deep red/purple colour with a very fresh, nuanced, aromatic bouquet loaded with blue and red fruits, cedar and high-toned flowers, violets to the fore. A totally gorgeous bouquet, very fresh and primary but also complex and detailed. Very fine tannins; extremely long carry. A supremely elegant, sublime wine that finishes right out with impressive extension. Clearly, the best Tom Cullity to date. (17% malbec; 1% petit verdot) |
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Western Australia | 1 | 99 (WAU) |
Inc. VAT
£300.41 |
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The West Australian (99)Highly perfumed aromas strike immediately. There is that combination of fruit sweetness and fine chalky minerally tannins. Loads of blackcurrant and juicy plum with a dollop of chocolate and mocha cut with floral and dried herb notes. Bright and energetic at every turn with subtlety and elegance. Delivers with a degree of understatement and restraint yet gathers pace and momentum as it drives through to the finish. The tannins are more in the powdery space with that slightly aspirin-like oak influence bringing it all together seamlessly and harmoniously. This is classic cabernet in its varietal makeup with a firm spine and length. The malbec has brought a vibrant red fruit juiciness into the equation. The finest wine yet from Vasse Felix. It’s 2016 without the tannin and 2014 without the opulence. |
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Western Australia | 1 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£136.40 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The 2020 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec is creamy, luscious and spiced, with crème de cassis, licorice, pressed flowers, violets, raspberry seed and a thrust of savory, nori-laced tannins. The wine is so young that the evolution has not yet begun to sink in yet, so at this point, it's just a check-in. It's a superb wine, and it has not moved from last year when I tasted it. This is highly recommended. It's a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot grapes that were handpicked between February 28 and April 9, then matured for 18 months in French oak (33% new). 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. |
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Western Australia | 3 | 98 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£673.24 |
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Wine Advocate (98)The 2020 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec is creamy, luscious and spiced, with crème de cassis, licorice, pressed flowers, violets, raspberry seed and a thrust of savory, nori-laced tannins. The wine is so young that the evolution has not yet begun to sink in yet, so at this point, it's just a check-in. It's a superb wine, and it has not moved from last year when I tasted it. This is highly recommended. It's a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot grapes that were handpicked between February 28 and April 9, then matured for 18 months in French oak (33% new). 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. |
Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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|
Western Australia | 1 | - |
In Bond
£144.00 |
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|
Western Australia | 2 | 96 (HWC) |
In Bond
£134.00 |
|||||
Halliday Wine Companion (96)Bright crimson-purple; this has provenance written large across its visage, likewise purity. Restructuring of the Vasse Felix offers to the market has lifted, not compromised, this dark, fruit-filled cabernet. |
|||||||||
|
Western Australia | 1 | 91 (VN) |
In Bond
£130.00 |
|||||
Vinous (91)Deep ruby. Vibrant, spice-accented red and blue fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of cigar box and candied flowers. In a juicy, energetic style, showing very good clarity to the bitter cherry and cassis flavors. Turns sweeter with air and finishes long and smooth, with just a hint of fine-grained tannins. |
|||||||||
|
Western Australia | 1 | 97 (JS) |
In Bond
£74.00 |
|||||
James Suckling (97)A very complex flinty and hazelnut style that has a strong play of fine French oak on the nose. Plenty of layers to the aromas here from white peaches and nectarine fruits to grapefruit and lemons. Immense grapefruit and citrus depth on the palate with warm oak spices and well-layered savory threads. Long and effortless power. Drink now. Screw cap. |
|||||||||
|
Western Australia | 1 | 97 (WE) |
In Bond
£359.00 |
|||||
Wine Enthusiast (97)One of the most renowned Chardonnays in Australia, the latest release is a knockout. A cool vintage allowed for gorgeous natural acidity and bright fruit to shine. Being the most cellarworthy of the Vasse Chards, Heytesbury is always structuredand more oak driven when young. It opens with heady aromas of toasted nuts, flint, seashell, vanilla pod and a seaweed-like umami note amid melon and lemon curd. The palate is fabulously fresh with textural complexity, and lingering nut, saline and citrusnotes on the lengthy finish. |
|||||||||
|
Western Australia | 1 | 98 (TRR) |
In Bond
£274.00 |
|||||
The Real Review (98)Bright mid-yellow colour, with an exuberant bouquet of grapefruit, cashew nuts and a faint smoky patina, the palate likewise flavoured and singing with a superb purity. Great refinement, intensity, line and length. A finesse wine, the grapefruit flavour so concentrated it gives an impression of sweetness—which of course it has none. A stunning chardonnay. |
|||||||||
|
Western Australia | 1 | 98 (HWC) |
In Bond
£296.00 |
|||||
Halliday Wine Companion (98)It’s been a joy to watch the evolution of Heytesbury over the past decade or so, as it's one of the great Australian chardonnays. Whatever vintage conditions have thrown at it, and with tweaks along the way, the nucleus remains steadfast: quality, excellent fruit and a second-to-none level of detail in the winemaking. This is an evocative wine. Pristine and sublime. Funky sulphides rockin’ it while a gossamer thread of acidity holds everything in line – the citrus flavours, the texture, the wine totally enveloping the oak and, while it’s a powerhouse of flavour, there’s a purity to this. It’s such a contrast. How does it achieve that? |
|||||||||
|
Western Australia | 7 | 97 (HWC) |
In Bond
£296.00 |
|||||
Halliday Wine Companion (97)If one wine typifies the current state of Australian chardonnay (complex, superfine, detailed and majestic) as much as a wine of place, Heytesbury could possibly be it. There’s a lot of fruit power this vintage, yet still, a tightly coiled style in youth. A millefeuille of flavour – grapefruit, lemon salt, white nectarine and complex savoury nuances, the oak and lees folded into the wine. There’s an intriguing zinc character too, a little flinty and funky with mouth-watering acidity. Moreish and compelling all the way through. Mesmerising. |
|||||||||
|
Western Australia | 1 | 98 (TRR) |
In Bond
£600.00 |
|||||
The Real Review (98)Deep red/purple colour with a very fresh, nuanced, aromatic bouquet loaded with blue and red fruits, cedar and high-toned flowers, violets to the fore. A totally gorgeous bouquet, very fresh and primary but also complex and detailed. Very fine tannins; extremely long carry. A supremely elegant, sublime wine that finishes right out with impressive extension. Clearly, the best Tom Cullity to date. (17% malbec; 1% petit verdot) |
|||||||||
|
Western Australia | 1 | 99 (WAU) |
In Bond
£245.00 |
|||||
The West Australian (99)Highly perfumed aromas strike immediately. There is that combination of fruit sweetness and fine chalky minerally tannins. Loads of blackcurrant and juicy plum with a dollop of chocolate and mocha cut with floral and dried herb notes. Bright and energetic at every turn with subtlety and elegance. Delivers with a degree of understatement and restraint yet gathers pace and momentum as it drives through to the finish. The tannins are more in the powdery space with that slightly aspirin-like oak influence bringing it all together seamlessly and harmoniously. This is classic cabernet in its varietal makeup with a firm spine and length. The malbec has brought a vibrant red fruit juiciness into the equation. The finest wine yet from Vasse Felix. It’s 2016 without the tannin and 2014 without the opulence. |
|||||||||
|
Western Australia | 1 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£111.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98)The 2020 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec is creamy, luscious and spiced, with crème de cassis, licorice, pressed flowers, violets, raspberry seed and a thrust of savory, nori-laced tannins. The wine is so young that the evolution has not yet begun to sink in yet, so at this point, it's just a check-in. It's a superb wine, and it has not moved from last year when I tasted it. This is highly recommended. It's a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot grapes that were handpicked between February 28 and April 9, then matured for 18 months in French oak (33% new). 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. |
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|
Western Australia | 3 | 98 (WA) |
In Bond
£545.00 |
|||||
Wine Advocate (98)The 2020 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec is creamy, luscious and spiced, with crème de cassis, licorice, pressed flowers, violets, raspberry seed and a thrust of savory, nori-laced tannins. The wine is so young that the evolution has not yet begun to sink in yet, so at this point, it's just a check-in. It's a superb wine, and it has not moved from last year when I tasted it. This is highly recommended. It's a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec and 3% Petit Verdot grapes that were handpicked between February 28 and April 9, then matured for 18 months in French oak (33% new). 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. |