Vasse Felix Chardonnay 2019

Vasse Felix Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia, 2019   

100% Chardonnay with 9 months in French Oak Barrique, 39% new, 61% 1-3 year old 

This Chardonnay has lifted aromas of grapefruits, crisp pears, grilled nuts and toast. A crisp wine with star fruit and lemon infused palate and a creamy mouth-feel imparted by lees stirring in high quality French oak barriques. 

Winemaker Comments "Another cool season, yet beautiful fruit ripeness was achieved with elegant fruit perfumes and perfect sugar levels. With high natural acidity, just over half completed malolactic fermentation. 50% of the fruit was hand-harvested, gently whole-bunch pressed and transferred to French Oak Barriques as unclarified juice for wild fermentation. The remaining 50% was Selectiv harvested and direct pressed, with high solids juice racked to barrel and fermented with wild yeasts from the vineyard. Each parcel was left on lees in barrel for 9 months of maturation with battonage. The premier Chardonnay sections were a mix of approximately 66% Gingin clone, 16% Bernard clones 95, 96 and 76, and 18% Clone 1. The majority of the fruit was sourced from our Wallcliffe and Wilyabrup vineyards, with a small portion from our Karridale vineyard." 

Rated 92/100 points, Wine Spectator, August 2021

Rated 17/20 points, Jancis Robinson, April 2021