Awards and Accolades

96 Points - Huon Hooke, The Real Review
"This outstanding wine is half the price of Vasse’s top chardonnay, Heytesbury, and nearly as good. Intense grapefruit, lemon aromas laced with toast from oak, the palate bright and precise with wonderful regional style and balance, and loads of charm."

2015 Vintage: 96 Points, Special Value Wine - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
"From Vasse Felix's premier vineyards focused on Wilyabrup, fermented and matured in French oak (42% new) for 9 months. The bouquet is still developing, but the palate guarantees the medium to long-term future of a chardonnay with exceptional length and intensity, pear, white peach and grapefruit combining to make light work of the oak. Restrained like a lion on a leash."

From the Winery

The fruit was hand-harvested and chilled, gently whole-bunch pressed and transferred to French oak barriques as unclarified juice for fermentation with only natural yeasts from the vineyard. We allowed this vintage to undergo Malolactic Fermentation due to its high natural acids, resulting in a softer acidity. Each parcel was left on lees in barrel for 9 months of maturation with battonage.

Moderate spring conditions at the end of 2015 helped establish a healthy fruitset and better yields than the previous two seasons. January temperatures were warm, interrupted by one rainfall event late in the month, great viticulture management, clean, well-trimmed canopies and subsequent warm weather prevented disease risk. White varieties were harvested throughout February with elegant flavours and bright natural acidity.