Winemaker

The Premier Cabernet Sauvignon of Vasse Felix. This wine’s distinctive style possesses all the hallmarks of the finest Margaret River Cabernet; elegance, power and ageability. Made every year since 1972, it is Margaret River’s archetypal Cabernet Sauvignon.

APPEARANCE
Deep ruby with a purple tinge.

NOSE
Immediately enticing bright forest fruits with deep blackberry. Hints of fresh baked bread crust, tomato and herb focaccia, earthy black truffle, iodine, ocean spray and granite stone that opens up to some cranberry and rose petal.

PALATE
Juicy, intense, and luscious on entry with fast building super fine and powdery tannin. It is soft yet solid, elegantly taut, and super-luscious with concentrated fresh raspberry, vanilla pod and savoury nutmeg on the finish.

WINEMAKER COMMENTS
Cabernet parcels grown in Wilyabrup, (the coastal, mid northern part of Margaret River) on ancient, well drained gravel loam soils produce a wine of great varietal purity and character. These wonderful, often tiny, vineyard sections were individually fermented using indigenous yeasts, with many experiencing maceration periods of up to 30 days.
Natural fermentation and extended maceration are coupled with traditional oxidative handling to clearly define the intricate personality of each vineyard site before blending.
Malbec remains a valuable component as it always has with our Cabernet Sauvignon. A hint of Petit Verdot brings a bright nuance and an extended long tannin profile with Merlot, our fond friend in Wilyabrup that occasionally makes the grade.

VINTAGE DESCRIPTION
2020 was a stunning vintage that will define ‘rare and fine’ with low yields and fantastic quality. Spring development was early, followed by a warm start to summer which continued into fine, sunny and dry conditions throughout the season. Combined with low yields, this brought an early start to harvest. No early bird pressure with timely Marri Blossom and no disease pressure were ideal. The birds
arrived after a rainfall event late February and we netted the reds, the conditions also cooled slightly extending the season for ideal tannin ripening and fruit flavour preservation.

VARIETIES 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Merlot
HARVESTED 28 February - 9 April 2020
PRESSING 62% Basket Press, 38% Air Bag Press
FERMENTATION 100% wild yeast, 100% whole berry
FERMENTATION VESSEL 43% Static Ferment 38% Roto fermenter 19% Open Top Ferment
TIME ON SKINS 13-30 days
MATURATION French oak barrique 33% new, 67% 1-4 year old, 18 months
BOTTLED February 2022
TA 6.1g/L PH 3.54
MALIC ACID 0.24g/L
RESIDUAL SUGAR 0.51g/L
ALCOHOL 14.5%
VEGAN FRIENDLY Yes
CELLARING 20+ years for savoury, elegant aged Cabernet Sauvignon