Vasse Felix : Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022

Characteristics and tasting advice for the Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022 cuvée from Vasse Felix

Tasting

Colour
The wine reveals a straw yellow colour with green and golden reflections.

Nose
Flintstone notes accompany aromas of apple cake, peach, granola and flambéed lemon. The bouquet, both complex and deep, reveals subtle touches of grapefruit, vanilla, coriander and bergamot.

Palate
A long and pure palate with a satin texture revealing a fruity structure. The persistent flavours of pine, pear, apple and lime cream lead to a fresh and delicate finish.

The elegance and richness of an exceptional Australian wine

The estate

Founded in 1967 by Dr. Thomas Cullity, the pioneering Margaret River estate, Vasse Felix, was taken over in 1987 by the Holmes family who developed the vineyard to cover 133 hectares. With a meticulous selection of each plot for an authentic expression of the terroir, and under the direction of renowned winemaker Virginia Willcox, the estate produces wines appreciated for their finesse, richness and great ageing potential.

The vineyard

Margaret River benefits from Mediterranean and oceanic climatic influences, being located on a peninsula surrounded by the ocean. The Vasse Felix vineyard extends over different sectors, offering a diversity of micro-climates and exposures. The historical heart, with the oldest vines, is in Wilyabrup, while the main plots are located to the north in Carbunup and to the south in Karridale.

Vinification and ageing

The clusters, hand-harvested, are carefully cold pressed in whole bunches. The must is then fermented exclusively with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels. The ageing continues in barrels for 15 months, including 8 months in casks, with 56% new wood and 44% of casks between 1 and 3 years old, including 13% of 1-year-old casks from Mercurey. After this period, the wine is assembled in a vat for an additional 7 months before bottling.

Blend

Chardonnay (100%)