Vasse Felix : Heytesbury Chardonnay 2023

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Heytesbury Chardonnay 2023 from Vasse Felix

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a lovely pale yellow hue with green highlights.

Nose

Complex and refined, the nose reveals mineral aromas of flint and damp limestone, accompanied by marine notes of ocean spray. The bouquet then opens onto indulgent nuances of lemon biscuits and pastry cream, enhanced by hints of mushroom, white leather and fresh straw.

Palate

On the palate, the wine stands out for its taut, precise acidity, supported by a fine, dry phenolic texture. The palate unfolds flavors of grapefruit and lime leaf, enriched by notes of thick cream and ginger, offering beautiful aromatic depth.

Food and wine pairings

This Heytesbury Chardonnay 2023 is an ideal match for seafood, especially fresh oysters or a shellfish platter. It also pairs perfectly with fine fish in a creamy sauce or roast poultry with citrus.

Serving and cellaring

The Heytesbury Chardonnay 2023 can be enjoyed now but will reveal its full complexity between around 2026 and 2030. Serve between 10 and 12°C to fully appreciate its aromatic finesse.

A Margaret River chardonnay of remarkable mineral elegance

The estate

Founded in 1967 by Dr Tom Cullity, Vasse Felix remains the oldest wine estate in Margaret River. This iconic Western Australia estate was acquired in 1987 by Robert Holmes à Court, Australia’s first billionaire. Under the direction of Virginia Willcock, winemaker since 2008 and Australian Winemaker of the Year 2026, Vasse Felix combines historic heritage with innovative practices, notably 100% natural fermentation since 2012, producing wines of remarkable concentration and finesse.

The vineyard

The vineyard spans 52 hectares in the Wilyabrup area of Margaret River, just 4 kilometers from the ocean. This maritime proximity gives the vines a temperate climate ideal for growing chardonnay. Heytesbury is made exclusively from the Gingin clone, a selection particularly well suited to Margaret River conditions, enabling wines of great aromatic finesse and fine mineral tension.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage began with a cool, dry spring that delayed vine growth. The mild summer that followed allowed the vines to catch up in their growth cycle. Harvest took place between February 15 and March 7, 2023, under favorable conditions despite strong bird pressure due to low Marri flowering. Yields achieved an excellent balance between fruit quantity and canopy development.

Vinification and aging

The grapes for Heytesbury Chardonnay 2023 are hand-harvested, then chilled before being whole-bunch pressed. The juices, kept on their full lees, ferment naturally with indigenous yeasts in 225-liter French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation proceeds spontaneously to completion. Aging lasts 16 months in total: 9 months in French oak barrels (52% new barrels and 48% 1- to 3-year-old barrels) with regular lees stirring, followed by 7 months in tank on total lees.

Grape variety

100% chardonnay.