Vasse Felix Tom Cullity

Vasse Felix Tom Cullity bottle image

Wine Description

Vasse Felix, Margaret River's founding wine estate, was established by Dr Thomas Brendan Cullity in 1967. Among his first plantings were Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec vines, from which he produced the estate’s first red wine. The Tom Cullity descends from these original vines and represents the pinnacle of Vasse Felix.

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Acclaim
“Alongside only a handful of other wines, I believe this is one of the very best Cabernets to come out of Margaret River in this brilliant year. So, the 2014 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec is effortless in its flow of raspberry pip and star anise, nori and sun-dried kelp, bay leaf, saltbush, tobacco ... the list of interesting and delicious flavors goes on and on. Suffice to say, both alone and in this context, this wine is one of the greats, and it has barely scratched the surface in its evolution over time. The tannins are a highlight for me: chewy, chalky, profuse and laced through every aspect of the palate and finish. Super.” — Wine Advocate, Jun 2024
“Relatively restrained, the aromas of pencil shavings and intense, bitter chocolate allude to the cloak of fine tannins that initially obscures the fruit. A beam of sour cherry, fresh blackcurrant and cassis soon shines through; notes of moss, peppermint, dried rose, kelp, ironstone, balsamic, cedar and anise lend voice. Dynamic tannins and sluicing acidity make for great precision, persistence and poise, leading to an elegant finish.”
— Decanter, May 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, Scott Henry
Exposure:
Various
Year vineyard planted:
1967
Harvest time:
Mid Mar - early April 13
First vintage of this wine:
2013
Bottles produced of this wine:
12,600
Average Vine Age:
51
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot
Fermentation container:
Static Fermenter and Open Fermenter
Malolactic fermentation:
Full
Fining agent:
Egg white
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Size of aging container:
225L
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
18 months
Age of Aging Container:
61% new, 39% 1-4 year old
Length of bottle aging:
30 months
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Analytical Data
No relevant data were found.
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Wine Production

All fruit was grown in Vasse Felix's Home Vineyard. Fruit parcels were picked in small blocks and fermented with 100% wild yeasts. 76% was static fermented and 24% was open fermented. the small sections were basketpressed to fine French oak and matured for 18 months with minimal racking. 100% French oak, (62% New, 38% 1-4 year old).

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About the Vineyard

Another text-book vintage in Margaret River with consistent, almost rhythmic temperature patterns throughout the ripening season, resulting in excellent balance and physiological ripeness of fruit. Reasonable yields were obtained despite a handful of blocks being exposed to heavy storms in spring reducing their cropping potential, but overall quality is excellent.