Wednesday, 25 August 2010
Vasse Felix
Iconic winery that we probably visited too late in the day.
2009 Chardonnay (4* $27) Another classy new breed Oz Chard.
2009 Vasse Felix Semillon (4* $25) Nice expression of the variety. Bit of oak lurking in the background, fragrant bouquet and quite delicious.
2009 Vasse Felix Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (4* $25) Balanced with the obligatory tropical fruits on the nose and across the palate.
2010 Classic Dry White (4* $20) An awfully familiar nose!
2009 Vasse Felix Viognier (3.5* $25) Better than some of the others I've tried. but still not convinced at this price point.
2008 Heytesbury Chardonnay (5* $50) An awful lot happening here, both on the nose and across the palate. One of the best.
2007 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon (4* $38) Strong varietal character. Trophy winner!
2007 Vasse Felix Shiraz (4* $35) Impressive style with pepper and herbs.
2008 Vasse Felix Cabernet Merlot (4* $25) Nice style with depth of fruit and rounded mouthfeel.
2008 Classic Dry Red (3.5* $20) Wasn't convinced by this one.
2009 Vasse Felix Tempranillo (4* $25/$20) Very nice take on the variety, though varietal sceptics might disagree.
2007 Heytesbury (5* $75) Cabernet/Malbec/Petit Verdot blend that lived right up to its reputation.
Overall, much as the wines impressed I found myself scratching my head and pondering whether I was missing something. A bridge too far on the tasting trail, perhaps, or maybe a case of too-high expectations and severe burnout in the taste buds. Too much of a good thing, and all that.
