Tasting Notes 🍇

Appearance
Deep plum with a purple tinge.

Nose
Light and fragrant with raspberry and blackcurrant coulis, a touch of rhubarb and a pretty rose petal lift. Beneath the fruit sits a complex mix of savoury notes: Mexican chocolate, native potpourri, hints of fresh mushroom and a little leather.

Palate
A soft, fresh entrance shows bright red and black fruits before a build of fine, dusty tannins. The core is elegant yet juicy, with fresh raspberry and blackcurrant running through the middle and a subtle echo of native potpourri and cocoa. Medium bodied, poised and very drinkable.

Finish
Powdery and dry, with lingering berry fruit, savoury spice and that faint mineral edge Ray Jordan picks up as oyster shell.

Viticulture and Winemaking 🌱

• Region: Margaret River, Western Australia

• Varieties: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot

• Harvest: 28 March to 19 April 2023

Vintage 2023
A cool, dry spring delayed vine development by a couple of weeks, allowing time to open canopies before veraison. Summer was warm and dry without extremes, giving excellent fruit balance and healthy canopies. A few small rain events in March refreshed the vines without diluting flavour. Cool evenings and moderate days with sea breezes were ideal for gentle, even tannin ripening in the reds. Lower Marri blossom meant more bird pressure, so extensive netting protected fruit quality. Overall, 2023 delivered dense flavour and beautifully balanced fruit.

Winemaking

• Destemmed and sent as whole berries to stainless steel rotary fermenters

• 100% wild yeast fermentation, with a gentle soak before ferment begins

• Open top work and use of aeration during ferment to soften tannins and lift perfume

• 12 to 15 days on skins before pressing in a pneumatic bag press

• Matured 10 to 12 months in French oak barriques

  • 100% French oak

  • 1 to 6 year old barrels, no new oak, to preserve fruit clarity

• Limited racking to keep freshness and the wild ferment complexity intact

Technical

• Alcohol: 14.0%

• pH: 3.45

• TA: 6.4 g/L

• Residual sugar: 0.49 g/L (dry)

• Vegan friendly: Yes

Serving and Cellaring ❄️

• Serving temperature: 16 to 18 °C

• Fresh, vibrant and ready to drink on release

• Cellaring: Up to 10 years to develop more savoury, cedary complexity while retaining its fine structure

Food Pairing Suggestions 🍽️

• Roast lamb with rosemary and garlic

• Chargrilled beef burgers with cheddar and caramelised onion

• Mushroom and thyme ragout on polenta

• Hard cheeses such as aged cheddar or gouda

• Pizza with pancetta, olives and mozzarella

FAQ 🧐

Is this a big, heavy cabernet blend?
No. It has plenty of flavour and structure, but sits in a medium bodied, bright and energetic style designed for earlier drinking.

What does the Merlot add?
Merlot brings a succulent, plummy softness to the cabernet backbone, making the tannins feel more approachable while keeping the wine serious and ageworthy.

Do I need to decant it?
Not essential, but a quick 30 minute splash in a jug or decanter will help open up the aromatics and smooth the tannins even further.

Learn About Vasse Felix

Vasse Felix, Margaret River’s founding wine estate, was established by Dr. Thomas Brendan Cullity in 1967. Among his initial plantings were Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec vines, which formed the foundation for the estate’s first red wine production.

We can order in a Vasse Felix Wine we don’t stock, email us at info@partnersinwine.com.au

Vasse Felix Wines are situated in one of the great wine regions of the world, Margaret River enjoys a truly unique environment and climate which makes it a paradise for winemakers and wine lovers alike. From the first plantings, right up to the modern day, we have always strived to explore and express the very best of the Margaret River region at Vasse Felix.

Vasse Felix Vineyards sit on exceptional sites throughout the region, including Margaret River’s oldest – our Home Vineyard in the Wilyabrup area, planted in 1967. We firmly believe that exceptional wines are born in healthy vineyard environments, embodying the authentic essence of their terroir, and are crafted by a dedicated team of passionate individuals.

Our viticulture and winemaking principles are rooted in the unique needs of Margaret River’s pristine environment. Vasse felix Winery has a specialised approach that prioritises nurturing soil health, ensuring vine longevity, and fostering natural biodiversity within our ecosystem. Drawing from over 50 years of experience, we meticulously balance organic principles with targeted inputs to maximise quality and ensure long-term sustainability.

A significant portion of our efforts is dedicated to the ‘soil season’, where we focus on enhancing the nutrition, replenishment, and microbiology of our ancient soils. During the ‘growing season’, we work intuitively and diligently with each vine’s structure and canopy to optimise grape quality and natural resilience.

At the heart of Vasse Felix Wines lies environmental expression, and to achieve this, every plot of fruit is meticulously tended to from harvest through to fermentation and maturation. With traceability to each individual vineyard plot, our viticulturists and winemakers are empowered to enhance the quality of both land and vine, starting from the ground up.

Read more HERE about what makes Margaret River so great.

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