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
“I think sometimes this wine is overshadowed by the Heytesbury, which sits above it. However, it is an error to underestimate this wine. It may not have the funk nor the phenolic framework that the Heytesbury has, however it is possessed of a poise, polish and class that enables it to sit well in any glass. The 2020 vintage was warm, and the wines produced that year have been across the board excellent. In the 2020 Chardonnay, we see a combination of experienced hand and fortunate season in confluence, which brings us a wine that speaks of salted crushed nuts, pure apple, peach and even juniper, saltbush, a touch of kelp and layers of briney acidity. A brilliant wine.”
— Wine Advocate, Jul 2023
“This 2020 Chardonnay is the complete package and gorgeous in a pristine, understated Margaret River style. Powerful, poised embryonic fruits are on display with citrus, nougat, slightly doughy aromas and oak sitting neatly in the background. A more expressive palate follows, quite mouth-filling but also underlined by juicy, vibrant acidity before a fine and long finish thanks to good tension and torque. It is just a baby now with plenty of class and will be delicious for some years to come.”
— Vinous, Sep 2022
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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
pH level:
3.16
Acidity:
6.7 g/L
Alcohol:
13 %
Residual sugar:
1.18 g/L
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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.