2016 Vasse Felix Tom Cullity and 2018 Heytesbury Chardonnay

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of a glass of 2009 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Margaret River Chardonnay alongside a tasty Salmon and Prawn entrée…..amazing. Having not tasted Heytesbury Chardonnay for years, it was a revelation. I started searching.

Reached out to the brand ambassador for Vasse Felix and luckily he was based in Sydney. We met and tried all the wines from the range including the 18 Heytesbury Chardonnay and finishing on a crescendo with their flagship Cabernet Blend The 2016 Tom Cullity.  Wow-what a lineup… Class from start to finish.

I had previously bought a “few” six-packs of the 2015 Tom Cullity for the Wine Ark museum so I was very pleased to add to the stash on the spot with the 2016. That being said…

I’ve made a crazy decision to share that vertical experience with at least 6 of you. For the first 6 orders on a straight 12 bottles of 2016 Vasse Felix Tom Cullity, ill throw in a 13th bottle of the 2015 Cullity from the Wine Ark museum for FREE. Yes, correct, $185 bottle of Margaret River Cabernet for FREE.

I’ve also got a very small amount (30 bottles) of the stunning 2018 Heytesbury Chardonnay. First in best dressed.

2016 Tom Cullity Cabernet Blend – $185 per bottle

All blocks were destemmed without crushing and then allowed to ferment naturally. The Cabernet Sauvignon (making up 78%) was static fermented, the Malbec and Petit Verdot (making up 22%) were open fermented, hand plunged and pressed dry. Small sections were basket pressed to fine French oak and matured for 19 months.

“The best Cullity yet released, confirmed in my own mind at a vertical tasting of the previous vintages. Lifted scents of cedar and subtle bay leaf with crushed rose petal nuances. The palate is deep and powerful with controlled structure of chalky, slightly powdery fine tannins and fine-grained oak. There is a minerally almost sea spray like character cutting through the dark fruits and chocolate richness. Compelling and just magnificent”. 99 points Ray Jordan

“The fragrance of Cabernet and sauvory detail of Malbec unite to distinguished effect in this long-ripening season, giving birth to one of the greatest blends in the lauded history of this legendary estate. Intricately scaffolded with ethereal fruit, enduring, powder fine tannins and sensative oak interlocking seamlessly, this is a masterfully crafted creation. It is impeccably polished from the outset, yet possessing of staggering longevity. 14.2%” 98 points Tyson Stelzer

“It’s a pleasure to spend time with Tom Cullity. This is all about refinement. It has a presence and a whole lot of detail. The fruit savoury and sweet, the iodine and graphite character of the malbec infused into the DNA. There are also finely chiselled tannins, lively acidity and a length like no tomorrow. Sure there’s a power and energy, but the wine’s defining feature is elegance.” 97 points James Halliday Wine Companion – Jane Faulkner.

2018 Heytesbury Chardonnay – $95 per bottle

“Heytesbury has always been a yin and yang wine. It has power, structure and depth yet can appear reticent in its youth. The fruit is fabulous. Wafts of lemon balm, ginger cream and spicy oak too but it is all about the palate – linear, long, super fine, a tight acid line, it has a crushed rock character with moreish flinty sulphides – the list goes on. Everything in sync. It’s one heck of a classy chardonnay.” 98 points – James Halliday Wine Companion – Jane Faulkner

“Deeply complex and so richly fruited, this is all wrapped in very tautly in a flavor-soaked and seamless chardonnay. Aromas of wet stones, yellow grapefruit, flint, green lemons, fresh oak and white peaches are all tightly arrayed. The palate has mouthwatering punch and crispness. Very assertive and driving with a sleek overall feel, but packed with powerful, pristine white-peach, lemon, apricot and green-mango flavors. So long. This is a modern benchmark.” 97 points James Suckling

“It’s as if Vase Felix has been working towards this release over years. There is power and finesse and subtle expression. Lemony with cereal notes and roasted cashew. The palate holds it line to a long finish. Naturally fermented with nine months in new and old oak.” 98 points Ray Jordan

“If the greatest wines of all prove their merit by virtue of rock-solid consistency from season to season, Heytesbury has attained the pinnacle of Australian chardonnay. The pinpoint accuracy of 2018 is breathtaking, with purity and focus that belie its deep, rising, swirling concentration and disarming line and length. Grand cru by every definition.” 98 points Tyson Stelzer’s

“Light, bright yellow colour with an incredibly powerful bouquet of grapefruit, lemon and spicy oak, all mixed up into a highly aromatic package. The palate is tremendously intense and searingly driven, the finish extended and dramatic. A very smart wine indeed. It’s starting to drink very well but will be even better in a year or two. (Aged for 9 months in 42% new barriques, the rest 1 to 3 years old.)” 96 points Huon Hooke

“This is savoury with bags of personality. Beautiful floral, flinty, smoky and lemony aromatics with a hint of spice. Delightful textural quality with toasty, savoury and spicy nuances with flinty acidity drawing out the long, chalky finish.” 98 points Decanter Olivia Mason

If delivery is required please allow a further $10 per case.

Kind Regards,

John Cuff