Winemaker Notes
A selection of the most unique and striking vineyard plots, recognized for its innovative winemaking, al dente ripeness and distinguishing 'Heytesbury' character.
Pale straw with a green and golden tinge. Savory, citrus and stone support the elegant, flinty note of the classic Heytesbury perfume. Delicate hints of coastal herb and green tea sit with a little soft cheese and candle wax. The pure, fine satin polish of this vintage is special, showing serious precision of al dente ripeness. A typically powerful and tightly held acid line holds a soft, full core, showing amazing restraint with incredible balance and a lightly pithy finish.
Professional Ratings
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Australian Wine Companion
It’s been a joy to watch the evolution of Heytesbury over the past decade or so, as it's one of the great Australian chardonnays. Whatever vintage conditions have thrown at it, and with tweaks along the way, the nucleus remains steadfast: quality, excellent fruit and a second-to-none level of detail in the winemaking. This is an evocative wine. Pristine and sublime. Funky sulphides rockin’ it while a gossamer thread of acidity holds everything in line – the citrus flavours, the texture, the wine totally enveloping the oak and, while it’s a powerhouse of flavour, there’s a purity to this. It’s such a contrast. How does it achieve that?
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James Suckling
A dense and structured white with white peaches, honeysuckle, lemon tree, and hints lime. Full-bodied with a gorgeous center palate and intense and lively finish. So wild and energetic. Wonderful depth and focus. Drink or hold. Can age beautifully. Think where it will be.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Heytesbury Chardonnay is as Heytesbury usually is—complex, firmly textured, coastal and briny, with layers of flesh and spice folded in on the palate. The wine ages tremendously, and the release cycle really does it no favors, as the wine seems to come into its own several years after release. It really is a shame about commercial reality! You get salted white peach, brine, saltbush, green apple skins, tea leaves, graphite/pencil box, tobacco leaf and cilantro. It's a sensational wine, and it will be even better in time. It was fermented wild, matured for nine months in French oak barriques (56% new, the balance one to three years old) and settled for six months in tank thereafter. Super wine. Piercing.
Rating:96+ -
Wine Enthusiast
This is an opulent yet poised and powerful vintage of Vasse's top Chardy. Smokey, flinty, grilled nut-and-buttered toast aromas dominate at first pour. They're quickly followed by melon and stone fruit, which gain prominence with time in glass. Delicate floral and mineral nuance also shine with aeration. The mouthfeel is round and rich but sliced by a laser beam of acidity. A long, saline and toast finish lingers. Approachable now with the ability to age for 8-10 years.
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Wine Spectator
Elegant and succulent, with salted butterscotch, a touch of buttery pear pastry and fresh citrus notes that are aromatic and juicy, plus grilled peach, white tea and lemon basil accents. Shows a seamless body and pure acidity, with an impressive overall impression.
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Decanter
Shy elegant nose, showing scents of lemon, peach tea, nutty oak and vanilla pod. Good textural flow, with a salty finish.
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Wine & Spirits
This starts off creamy and laden with the vanillin of oak, but the oak soon recedes into fruit that is Loire chenin-like in its ocean-facing freshness. Texturally fine, the flavors subtle and long, this is built for aging.
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.