VASSE FELIX PREMIER CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2022

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"The Premier Cabernet Sauvignon of Vasse Felix. Made every year since 1972, each vintage of this historic Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River’s original, embodies a faithful pursuit of excellence, purity and wine artistry. Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon is an archetypal expression, possessing all the hallmarks of the finest Margaret River Cabernet; elegance, power and ageability. 

Concentrated and complex aromas unfold with dark berry coulis and raspberry pip, intertwined with graphite, wet stones, and dry forest floor. Floral notes of everlastings and potpourri emerge, alongside subtle accents of liquorice, star anise, and charcoal. A touch of saddle leather, wax, vanilla, and cedar adds depth to this captivating aroma. A fresh and delicate entry leads to a fleshy core, elevated by buoyant acidity. Medium-bodied with a lovely mouth f illing tension, it unfolds with vibrant complexity—notes of blueberry skin, dark chocolate, and firm tannins build towards a long, dry finish. It’s reminiscent of a warm yet assured handshake, exuding confidence.

Cabernet parcels grown in Wilyabrup, (the coastal, mid northern part of Margaret River) on ancient, well drained gravel loam soils to produce a wine of great varietal purity and character. These wonderful, often tiny, vineyard sections were individually fermented using indigenous yeasts, with some experiencing maceration periods of up to 34 days. Natural fermentation and extended maceration are coupled with traditional oxidative handling to clearly define the intricate personality of each vineyard site before blending. Malbec still remains a valuable component as it always has with our Cabernet Sauvignon."

96/100 Ray Jordan (2022 Vintage)
"A classically elegant and exquisitely presented cabernet from a vintage that combined fruit intensity and stylishness. The aroma has a distinctive lift of blackcurrant and slightly savoury olive tapenade with a deep dark chocolate character. Hint of bay leaf and oyster shell minerality. It’s finely balanced with fine-grained oak and firm fine tannins."

95/100 James Halliday's Wine Companion, April 2025 (2022 Vintage)
"On the one hand this seems approachable and complete, so it's drinking superbly; but, on the other hand, there's structure and detail with a framework of fine tannins and acidity, ensuring this will garner more complexity in time. Go ahead and enjoy its violets, mulberries and blackberries, raspberry leaf, dousing of licorice, oak spices and black olives with some dark mint-chocolate, too, with plenty of savouriness throughout. There's a certain elegance and vitality to this, giving it an edge."

5 Stars & 95/100 Stuart Knox, The Real Review, January 2025 (2022 Vintage)
"Full ruby-red colour. Blackcurrant, tobacco leaf and cedar aromatics. Medium bodied with a bright intensity of black fruits at the core. Cigar box, dried tobacco, graphite and black olive savouries all meld with the fruit to create a harmonious palate that is guided with persistent, finely wrought tannins. Phenomenal length and precision into the finish. This is a delight to drink now, and as a classic cabernet it will cellar very well."

94/100 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (2022 Vintage)
"The nose is lifted and perfumed with an underlying power, giving aromas of blackcurrants, potpourri, graphite and mocha. The palate is full-bodied with finely integrated tannins and bright acidity, giving notes of boysenberries, wild blackberries, mulberries and dried herbs. Very focused and generous, with a firmly integrated structure. Made from 89% cabernet sauvignon, 10% malbec and 1% merlot."