Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay

Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay bottle image

Wine Description

A selection of the most unique and striking vineyard sections, recognised for its innovative winemaking and distinguishing 'Heytesbury' character.

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Acclaim
“Limpid straw-yellow. Intensely perfumed, mineral- and lees-accented Meyer lemon, pear and melon aromas show excellent clarity and pick up hints of honeysuckle and iodine as the wine stretches out. Displays superb clarity and mineral lift on the palate, offering juicy, smoke-accented nectarine, pear nectar and kumquat flavors that show impressive tension and back-end cut. The mineral quality repeats strongly on the strikingly long, vaguely smoky finish, which leaves behind a sexy floral note. In the context of world-class, ageworthy Chardonnay, which is clearly where this wine should be placed, there's remarkable value here.”
— Vinous, Jul 2021
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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:
1997
Bottles produced of this wine:
19,200
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:
57% new, 43% 1-2 year old
Length of bottle aging:
9 months
Total SO2
145
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.2
Acidity:
6.5 g/L
Alcohol:
13 %
Dry extract:
21 g/L
Total SO2
145
Residual sugar:
1 g/L
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Wine Production

Our most unique small sections within our vineyards where clone, aspect and soil interplay in such a way that sets these parcels apart from the rest. Each batch was very gently pressed and the juice then transferred directly to barriques with the inclusion of all solids to achieve more of the unique vineyard character. Each batch was fermented wild with no yeast addition and was stirred throughout the nine months of maturation, allowing the yeast lees to impart further complexity, texture and palate weight to the wine. With bright, high acidity in 2016, natural malolactic fermentation was encouraged and completed.

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About the Vineyard

Moderate spring conditions at the end of 2015 helped establish a healthy fruit set 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 high natural acidity.