Vasse Felix Premier Chardonnay

Vasse Felix Premier Chardonnay bottle image

Wine Description

A pure, elegant and vibrant style of Chardonnay, embracing the region's powerful fruit with complexity and restraint to express the environment, with the hallmarks of Vasse Felix's premier vineyards.

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Acclaim
"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."
— James Halliday, Oct 2016
"Vasse Felix farms chardonnay at three of its four vineyard sites in Margaret River, including the Home Vineyard in Wilyabrup, where Tom Cullity planted the region’s first vines in 1967. This 2015 has the woodsy scent of acacia blossoms and the cool feel of the Margaret River’s coastal forest. The fruit is tight until, with air, its lemon severity opens toward finesse, detailed floral notes and lasting tart citrus flavors. Pour it with grilled abalone or other fresh shellfish."
— Wine & Spirits, Oct 2017
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
selected sites throughout Margaret River
Soil composition
deep gravel loam soil over clay
Training method
VSP
Exposure:
Various
Year vineyard planted:
1996-2008
Harvest time:
Feb-16
First vintage of this wine:
2013
Average Vine Age:
10 - 20 yo
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
100% Chardonnay
Fermentation container:
Barriques
Malolactic fermentation:
Partial
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
9 months
Age of Aging Container:
42% new, 58% 1-2 year old
Length of bottle aging:
6 months
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Analytical Data
No relevant data were found.
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Wine Production

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, 100% French oak (42% new, 58% 1-2 yo)

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About the Vineyard

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.