Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

 

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Vasse Felix
Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
  • Vintage : 2020
  • Country : Australia
  • Region : Margaret River
  • Subregion :
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Deep Full Bodied
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 14°
  • Grappes : 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot

Crafted primarily from 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, with contributions from 10% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot, this wine embodies the quality-driven, minimal intervention ethos of Vasse Felix.

Experts Score Vintage
WS Wine Spectator 93 2020
JS James Suckling 92 2020
WE Wine Enthusiast 90 2020
W&S Wines & Spirits 90 2020
JH James Halliday 95 2019
RP Robert Parker 91 2019
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

Located in the Margaret River wine region of Western Australia, Vasse Felix is renowned for its Mediterranean climate, characterized by cool sea breezes and moderate rainfall, providing an ideal environment for Cabernet Sauvignon. The region’s gravelly loam soils contribute to the wine’s structure and depth, allowing the vines to develop rich, concentrated fruit with a distinct regional identity.

The 2020 vintage was exceptional, producing low yields of stunning quality. A warm start to summer was followed by fine, dry conditions, ensuring excellent ripeness and concentration. Late-season cooling extended the harvest period, allowing for ideal tannin development and preservation of vibrant fruit flavors.

Winemaking

The 2020 Filius Cabernet Sauvignon underwent meticulous, minimal-intervention winemaking. The fruit was destemmed and fermented as whole berries using 100% wild yeast, capturing the wine’s natural complexity. Gentle techniques, including open-top fermentation and aeration, were employed to enhance fruit purity, soften tannins, and create a lively, aromatic profile.

Following fermentation, the wine spent an average of 15 months in French oak barriques (1–5 years old), which added subtle oak influence without overwhelming the fresh fruit character. The result is a balanced, vibrant Cabernet with refined tannins and integrated flavors.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Light garnet, highlighting its bright and youthful nature.
  • Aroma: A layered bouquet of ripe blackberry, blackcurrant jam, and red currant, interwoven with floral notes of wild peppermint blossom and savoury nuances like shiitake soup and wakame seaweed.
  • Palate: Juicy and approachable, with intense dark fruit flavors of silken berry purée and fresh acidity. The finish is soft and powdery, with lingering blackberry and gentle tannins.

Did You Know?

The Filius range translates to “son” in Latin, symbolizing its role as a younger, more accessible sibling to the premium Vasse Felix range while retaining the estate’s signature quality and precision.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Boeuf à la Bourguignonne: The wine’s bright fruit and savoury complexity complement the rich, slow-cooked flavors of this classic French dish.
  • Magret de Canard aux Baies: The fruity notes of blackberry and blackcurrant enhance the flavors of duck breast served with a berry reduction.
  • Gratin d’Aubergines: The wine’s savoury undertones pair beautifully with the roasted vegetable flavors and creamy textures of this Mediterranean dish.
  • Côtes d’Agneau Grillées: The structure and dark fruit of the Cabernet enhance the charred richness of grilled lamb chops.

Wine Spectator (WS) : 93 Points (2020)
Offers wild berry flavors that are plush and elegant, which mingle with forest floor, sage, dried mushroom, palo santo and a touch of peppermint oil. Delivers tannins that are supple and creamy, with an elegant yet powerful profile.

James Suckling (JS) : 92 Points (2020)
Blackcurrants, sage and hints of fresh herbs on the nose. Medium-bodied. Firm tannins and a fresh, vivid finish. Linear and delicious. Drink now

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 90 Points (2020)
Heady notes of sweetly spiced oak and chocolate mingle with cassis, violet and mint. Tannins are a little chunky, and acid- ity is pinched, but there’s lovely savory spice and red fruit tang right through to the finish. A solid, youthful Cab bearing the classic Vasse style, but this reviewer recommends paying a bit extra for the winery’s self-named middle tier bottling.

Wines & Spirits (W&S) : 90 Points (2020)
A full and rich vintage of Filius, Willcock’s regional wine, this melds foresty fruit with bitter-chocolate tannins. Those tannins imply vine roots surrounding the red fruit, coming together on the underside of ripeness.

James Halliday (JH) : 95 Points (2019)
It all hangs together perfectly, from its light crimson hue to its ultra-fragrant bouquet and juicy red and black currant palate. Even better is the structure revealed on the finish and aftertaste: tannins wrought with the precision of a Swiss watchmaker.

Robert Parker (RP) : 91 Points (2019)
2019 was a cool vintage in Margaret River, and in terms of quality, it produced aromatic, detailed Cabernets of poise and grace. This 2019 Filius Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception. It has powdery tannin, kelp and iodine in the mix, too, with raspberry compote, black tea and a squeeze of pomegranate.

Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022
Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022
Vasse Felix
Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022
RP
97
WE
96
DCT
97
A benchmark Australian Chardonnay, the Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022 showcases the precision and power of Margaret River’s terroir. The wine delivers an expressive interplay of minerality, depth, and elegance, offering a refined and structured experience.
77,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Vasse Felix
Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
RP
94
JS
92
WS
93
This Cabernet Sauvignon is aromatic and layered, with notes of forest fruits, savory nuances, and a minerally edge, capturing the unique character of Wilyabrup’s terroir.
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Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay 2021
Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay 2021
Vasse Felix
Filius Chardonnay 2021
JS
93
RP
90
WE
93
Vasse Felix Chardonnay is typified by its bright, elegant fruit, subtle wild complexities and a tight acid structure, reflecting the vibrancy and purity of this variety in Margaret River. ‘Filius’ translates to ‘son of’ in Latin, reflecting the relationship between this wine and its premier ‘father’.
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Vasse Felix Chardonnay 2022
Vasse Felix Chardonnay 2022
Vasse Felix
Chardonnay 2022
WS
91
RP
94
JH
95
The 2022 Vasse Felix Chardonnay is a quintessential Margaret River Chardonnay, combining elegance and power with layers of wild complexity.
34,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Malbec 2018
Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Malbec 2018
Vasse Felix
Tom Cullity Cabernet Malbec 2018
W&S
94
JH
99
WE
97
Vasse Felix, Margaret River's founding wine estate, was established by Dr Thomas Brendan Cullity in 1967. Among his first plantings were Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec vines, from which he produced the estate’s first red wine. The Tom Cullity descends from these original vines and represents the pinnacle of Vasse Felix.
135,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
24,90 €
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