2019 Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Grape
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Malbec
Its Origins
As the moderate climate of Margaret River is becoming Australia’s centre of premium winemaking, Vasse Felix are leading the pack in recognition and can, in fact, lay claim to having been there first. It was the founder Dr Thomas Cullity whose planting experiments were confirmed when in 1966 experts identified Margaret River as a near homoclime (same climate as) Bordeaux. Luckily those commissioning the studies, and the local newspaper that published the details, had no idea how significant they were, and in 1967 Cullity had little competition in finding the best site - which he cleverly did in redgum country with red gravel above and clay lying below. Here at Margaret River’s first vineyard, Vasse Felix, he planted Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Malbec and Riesling. The latter variety was to be the label’s first success (in 1972), showing the white wine promise of the cooler Margaret River, which is now as famous for Chardonnay as it is for Cabernet Sauvignon. Regarding Cabernet itself - which is the winery’s flagship - the acknowledged experts at Vasse Felix have a distinctive take on this variety, revealing the elegant and aromatic nature of the grape so that that at times it seems to compare as much to Burgundy as it does to Bordeaux. With an established reputation but also the strictest artisanship and organic, sustainable practices - including being on the cutting edge of industrial recycling - Vasse Felix are not only masters of their art, but stayers in the game.
What The Critics Say
98/100 Halliday's Wine Companion, Jane Faulkner
"It’s often a shame to taste a flagship wine so young when it has decades ahead of it, but that feeling lasted a nanosecond before turning to respect, then 'oh my, this is awesome'. Sometimes I get very excited. In this seductive youthful stage, it’s fragrant with florals from violets to lavender, plenty of blueberries and bramble all wonderfully savoury with lots of warming spices. The palate offers charm, detail and excellent structure with velveteen tannins and a fine acid line teasing this to a long, long finish." Drink 2024 - 2040
97/100 James Suckling
"A dense and layered red with blackcurrants, mushroom, bark, and forest flowers with hints of fresh sage. Medium-bodied with a pretty core of currants and sweet berries with hints of dried and fresh herbs. So creamy and polished in texture. Extremely long and persistent. Drinks wonderfully now. Savory. A cabernet sauvignon and malbec blend. Own roots. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap."
97/100 Parker's Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin
"Made with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Malbec, this had a 100% wild ferment with 100% whole berry and was matured in French oak for 17 months (66% new). The 2019 season in Margaret River was cool and wet (in a good, balanced way), and it produced wines of presence, poise, detail and nuance. The only problem with 2019 as a vintage here was its proximity to the great 2018. However, the beauty of a year like 2019 is its ability to satisfy the drinkers who prefer cooler seasons. It's all mood-related for me, and on some days, a cool-season wine is preferred to a powerful one, and vice versa. No right or wrong. The low-yielding 2019 vintage is the first time the Tom Cullity wine did not include any percentage of Petit Verdot (previously, anything from 1% to 4.5% has made it into the blend). So, to the wine. On the nose, the 2019 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec is brooding and dark, with layers of blackberry, resin, chewing tobacco, nori, saltbush, togarashi spice (nori, Valencia orange peel, cayenne pepper, sesame, ginger, poppy seed, white pepper) and licorice root grace the aromatics. In the mouth, the wine follows suit. A seductively dark, satisfying and svelte wine, it's super good. This is a more polarizing style than the universally lauded 2018." Drink 2023 - 2059
| Variety | Cabernet Sauvignon |
|---|---|
| Region | Western Australia |
| Closure | Cap |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Alcohol | 14.50% |
| Maturity | 2023 - 2059 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
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