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
“Is it possible that the 2015 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec is coming around finally? Nine years from harvest, and the wine is starting to shed some of its backwards characters. I've always had hope. On the nose, you get fresh leather, raspberry coulis, licorice, a hint of Australian sandalwood and loads of nori and kelp. The tannins are pliable and fine and streak across the palate with grace and pace. This was made with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, picked in the middle of March to early April 2015. It had a wild ferment, destemmed, and was matured in 51% new French oak for 16 months. Interestingly, this has the highest total acidity of all the vintages in front of me today, with seven grams per liter and a pH of 3.51. Perhaps the acidity coupled with the warm vintage are contributing factors to its slow evolution. Whatever the reason, it's looking better today than I've thought for some time. Hang on if you can, I think it has more to give.” — Wine Advocate, Apr 2024
“Savoury characters (as opposed to the fruit) are dialled up a notch – surprising in a low-yielding vintage. Tobacco pouch and warm iron join the signature bitter chocolate, dried rose, sage, baking powder and peppermint riffs. Cedar-edged sweet red berry fruit, succulent plum and fine, papery tannins make for a soft graphite finish. Introspective.”
— 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
Exposure:
Various
Year vineyard planted:
1967
First vintage of this wine:
2013
Average Vine Age:
52
Certifying Organizations:
NASSA
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Winemaking & Aging
Prefermentation Technique:
100% wild yeast, whole berry wild ferment
Varietal composition:
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot
Fermentation container:
Static Fermentation and Open Fermentation
Malolactic fermentation:
Full
Fining agent:
Egg white
Type of aging container:
Barriques
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
16 months
Age of Aging Container:
51% new, 49% 1-3 year old
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.5
Acidity:
7 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %
Residual sugar:
0.4 g/L
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Wine Production

All blocks were destemmed only without crushing and then allowed to ferment naturally. The Petit Verdot, Malbec and larger portion of Cabernet Sauvignon (making up 54%) were open fermented, hand plunged and pressed dry. The remaining 46% of the Cabernet and Malbec were static fermented, gently pumped over through a splash tub and then left on skins for up to 34 days, allowing the wine to stabilise and become structurally sound in such a brilliant year for tannin ripeness. The small sections were basket pressed to fine French oak and matured for only 16 months in this delicate vintage, with minimal racking.

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About the Vineyard

Mild conditions in Margaret River with no extreme weather conditions, allowing for balanced fruit and a slow and steady intake. There was no disease pressure and fruit quality is excellent the only disappointment was yields being down across the Region for all key varieties. This was the outcome of storms in spring and pressure from an increase in the local population of Silver Eyes (birds) and no Marri Blossom.