Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay 2021
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Wine
Enthusiast -
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Bright pale straw color. An open fragrant perfume reminiscent of apple pie, delicate spice and milk arrowroot biscuits. Perfectly ripe notes of lemon, peach and mango mingle with light pear and a hint of white pepper. A very comfortable mouthfeel with fleshy softness, fruit sweetness and full body tempered by a beautiful fresh acid crunch toward the finish. Almost a mango-like texture with a tangy twist, fused with slightly undercooked pie crust.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The entry level Chard from Margaret River's oldest estate is a steal, and a stellar intro to this West Aussie style. Delicate and seamlessly integrated notes of lightly toasted hazelnut and cream lead, with a salty sea breeze vibe. The pineapple, melon and preserved lemon notes take supporting roles. It's beautifully balanced, the crunchy acidity neatly juxtaposing the textural weight. Finessed with polish and craftsmanship, but also utterly drinkability now.
Editors' Choice -
James Suckling
A white of solid fruit with white peaches, apple and hints of vanilla and oak. Medium to full body, creamy texture and a flavorful finish. Lots going on here.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Crunchy, minerally and taut, a briney seam of acidity and phenolics strike through the heart of this wine and pull it through the finish. This 2021 Filius Chardonnay is the crunchy, vibrant end of the Chardonnay spectrum, not just within the Vasse Felix house style but within the regional context as well. This is a cleverly made, uncomplicated Chardonnay. I love the salted nuts through the finish.
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Established in 1967 by regional pioneer Dr Tom Cullity, Vasse Felix is Margaret River's founding wine estate. Pristine isolation, ancient lands and twin oceans make Margaret River a wine paradise and one of the world’s greatest environments to grow ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. These varieties, alongside Shiraz and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends are the primary focus at Vasse Felix. All wines are grown in Vasse Felix’s four Margaret River vineyards then vinified and bottled within the modern winery, situated at the Home Vineyard overlooking the Wilyabrup Brook. The Vasse Felix Cellar Door - also located at the Home Vineyard - is renowned. Featuring a tasting room, wine lounge, art gallery, wine museum and one of Australia's most acclaimed restaurants, visitors are welcomed from all around the world, eager for the ultimate Vasse Felix experience.
There are many things that make Vasse Felix the special place it is: the incredible environment and climate of Margaret River, their secure family ownership, their treasured heritage, and their priceless vineyards. But above all, it's the dedication of the entire team to continue Dr Cullity's original aim for Vasse Felix: "to make the best possible wine".
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
Home to some of Australia’s most elegant and long-lived red and white wines, Margaret River is situated in the farthest reaches of Western Australia. Relatively warm and dry, the region is cooled by breezes from the Indian Ocean. Margaret River takes some inspiration from Bordeaux, producing top-quality Cabernet Sauvignons and Bordeaux Blends with firm structure, mouthwatering acidity, balanced alcohol and notes of herbs and spice. For white wines, refreshing blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon as well as complex, age-worthy Chardonnays are regional specialties.