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.

History of Vasse Felix

The Vasse Felix story begins with Dr Thomas Brendan Cullity, a visionary cardiologist whose passion for fine wine was awakened during his time in Britain in the 1950s. Inspired by the elegance of European wines and guided by the pioneering viticultural research of Dr John Gladstones and Professor Harold Olmo, Cullity searched for the perfect vineyard site in the untamed southwest of Australia. In 1967, he found his answer in Wilyabrup, a coastal pocket with red gravel soils over clay, protected by towering redgums and just kilometres from the Indian Ocean.

There, he planted 8 hectares of vines, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, and established rudimentary winemaking facilities—initially using repurposed hospital equipment. His early vintages faced scepticism and harsh conditions, but his determination laid the foundation for what would become one of Australia’s great estates.

In 1987, the estate was purchased by the Holmes à Court family, who have since nurtured Vasse Felix with unwavering commitment to quality and innovation, while remaining anchored to Cullity’s original vision: to make the best possible wine.

Chief Winemaker: Virginia Willcock

Appointed in 2006Virginia Willcock is one of Australia’s most respected and awarded winemakers. A graduate of the renowned Roseworthy Agricultural College, Virginia brings over three decades of experience, including vintages in Italy, New Zealand, and Albania, to her role at Vasse Felix.

Her winemaking philosophy is grounded in minimal intervention and a deep reverence for vineyard expression. She is a champion of wild fermentation, extended lees contact, and small-batch vinification—all techniques that heighten complexity and highlight the individuality of each site.

Under her stewardship, Vasse Felix has elevated its reputation both nationally and internationally, with Virginia receiving numerous accolades, including:

  • Australian Winemaker of the Year finalist (Gourmet Traveller Wine)
  • Trophy for Most Outstanding Wine in Show at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show
  • Recognition as one of the definitive voices of Margaret River terroir

Virginia’s leadership has helped shape Vasse Felix’s distinct style: wines of precision, purity and place, consistently praised for their structure, finesse, and ageability.

Region and Vineyards

Vasse Felix is located in the heart of Margaret River, a remote and pristine wine region in Western Australia that has emerged as one of the world’s premier sites for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The region’s unique terroir—ancient gravel-loam soils, a Mediterranean climate, and strong maritime influence—provides ideal conditions for slow, even ripening and the preservation of acidity, aromatic intensity, and structure.

Although Margaret River accounts for only 3% of Australia’s total grape production, it contributes over 20% of its premium wine market, a testament to its exceptional growing conditions and commitment to quality.

Vasse Felix farms three primary vineyards:

  • Home Vineyard (Wilyabrup): The original site selected by Dr Cullity, situated along Wilyabrup Brook. This iconic vineyard delivers powerful yet refined Cabernet Sauvignon, marked by gravelly loam soils and ocean proximity that moderates temperature extremes.
  • Karridale Vineyard: Located in the cooler southern part of the region, Karridale provides tension, brightness and aromatics, particularly valued in Chardonnay and white blends.
  • Carbunup Vineyard: Known for its warmer conditions, Carbunup contributes generosity, ripeness and texture, making it an essential component in blending for volume and richness.

All vineyards are cultivated with sustainable and organic principles, with site-specific approaches to variety, row orientation, and canopy management. Grapes are hand-picked in small parcels, fermented and aged separately, and undergo a meticulous grading process from vineyard to barrique to final blend.

Wine Range of Vasse Felix

The estate’s production is centred around Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, with a clear emphasis on varietal clarity, regional integrity, and textural elegance. The portfolio is structured into four quality tiers:

  • Icon WinesTom Cullity, the pinnacle of the estate’s red winemaking, sourced from the original 1967 vines and Heytesbury Chardonnay, an internationally acclaimed, complex white wine of fine tension and mineral drive.
  • Premier Range: Classic expressions of Margaret River varietals, highlighting the purity of fruit and vineyard-driven character. Includes Premier Cabernet Sauvignon and Premier Chardonnay.
  • Filius Range: A more approachable and youthful interpretation of the house style, showcasing vibrancy and freshness across Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc–Semillon blends.
  • Classic Range: Everyday wines crafted with the same attention to detail and philosophy as the estate’s top-tier offerings.

Did you know?

The estate's name is a nod to local history: “Vasse” honours French sailor Thomas Vasse, who was lost at sea nearby in 1801, while “Felix” means happy or fortunate in Latin. Fittingly, Jancis Robinson MW once described Margaret River as "the closest thing to paradise in any wine region I have visited", a sentiment embodied by Vasse Felix’s enduring commitment to beauty, balance, and place.

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
JS
92
RP
94
WE
90
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.
41,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay 2021
Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay 2021
Vasse Felix
Filius Chardonnay 2021
JS
93
RP
90
WE
93
A Margaret River Chardonnay that fuses maritime finesse with elegant winemaking, offering vibrancy and poise in equal measure.
24,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
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
JS
98
DCT
96
W&S
94
A triumph of balance and precision, the 2018 Tom Cullity envelops the palate in fine-grained tannins and enduring perfume. An unforgettable tasting experience from one of Australia's greatest vintages!
135,00 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
24,90 €
Quantity : Moins     Plus
 
 
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