Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022

Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022

 

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Vasse Felix
Heytesbury Chardonnay 2022
  • Vintage : 2022
  • Country : Australia
  • Region : Margaret River
  • Subregion :
  • Type : White
  • Style : Creamy Full Bodied White
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 13°
  • Grappes : 100% Chardonnay

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.

Experts Score Vintage
RP Robert Parker 97 2022
DCT Decanter 97 2022
WE Wine Enthusiast 96 2022
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 96 2022
JS James Suckling 94 2022
JH James Halliday 98 2021
BC Bob Campbell MW 97 2021
WS Wine Spectator 94 2021
W&S Wines & Spirits 95 2020
More information on wine critics and ratings

Region and Vineyards

Margaret River, in Western Australia, is internationally recognized for producing some of the finest Chardonnays. The region benefits from a maritime climate, shaped by the Indian Ocean and Antarctic currents, which moderate temperatures and extend the ripening season. This allows the grapes to develop balanced acidity and layered complexity.

The Heytesbury Chardonnay is sourced from select vineyard parcels, planted with the Gingin clone, known for its low yields and concentrated fruit. The soils, composed of gravelly loam, provide excellent drainage, ensuring optimal vine stress and resulting in fruit with exceptional structure and depth.

Winemaking

The 2022 vintage experienced a cool, extended spring, delaying vine growth. This was followed by a warm summer, leading to fruit that was both rich and structured. The combination of these climatic conditions contributed to a wine of great intensity and elegance.

The grapes were hand-harvested from February 16 to March 4, followed by whole-bunch pressing to retain freshness. The juice, left unclarified, was fermented in French oak barriques using wild yeasts. The wine matured for 15 months, with 8 months in oak (56% new, 44% aged 1–3 years) and 7 months on lees in tank. Lees stirring was carried out to enhance texture, and natural malolactic fermentation was encouraged to create a harmonious balance between acidity and mouthfeel.

Tasting Notes

  • Color: Pale straw with subtle green and golden tinges.
  • Aroma: Notes of flint, citrus peel, and stone fruit, complemented by smoky oak, vanilla, and hints of bergamot.
  • Palate: A silky, textured mouthfeel, with flavors of pear, lime curd, and crisp apple leading to a long, structured finish with fresh acidity.

Did you know?

The Gingin clone, a hallmark of Margaret River Chardonnay, is believed to be a local mutation of the Mendoza clone. It is renowned for its thick-skinned berries, which enhance concentration and natural acidity, contributing to the longevity of the wine.

Wine Pairing Ideas

  • Seared scallops with beurre blanc – The wine’s minerality and acidity complement the buttery texture of the scallops.
  • Grilled lobster with lemon butter – The bright citrus notes enhance the sweetness and richness of the lobster.
  • Roast guinea fowl with tarragon cream sauce – The wine’s texture and depth match well with poultry’s delicate flavors.
  • Aged Comté cheese – The nutty, umami complexity of the cheese is beautifully balanced by the wine’s freshness and structure.

Robert Parker (RP) : 97 Points (2022)
The 2022 Heytesbury Chardonnay is lighter, fresher and finer than I can ever remember the Heytesbury tasting on release. It stylistically made a name for itself in the mid 2000s for the high-solid ferments, flinty reduction and spice aplenty. These days, I feel the style has swung gently back toward the middle, presenting us with a wine that is infinitely composed, powerful, restrained and yet kaleidoscopic in its fruit profile. I am not a fan of bombastic "best ever" statements, but this may go down as one of the greatest Heytesburys I have had the pleasure of tasting on release, and that is a statement that pays respect to the 2010 and 2013 vintages. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Decanter (DCT) : 97 Points (2022)
Sleek, taut and bursting with energy and succulence, this is excellent Chardonnay. A real thoroughbred, standing head and shoulders above all else in the tasting. A Jura-like washed rind note melds with curry leaf, quince and orchard fruits. Stony phenolics are bound to an intense saline lick to finish. Chiselled, vibrant and poised. So beautiful to drink. Reminiscent of something from the Jura, married to the ebullient fruit of Australia. Scintillating stuff that will age so very well.

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 96 Points (2022)
2022 was on the warm side and this bottling of one of Margaret River's top Chards offers less of the reductive struck match and roasted-nut aromas of past vintages. It instead displays pithy citrus and melon rind, oats and salty seashell aromas, with a slight metallic edge. Round and textured, but with lovely acidity throughout, the concentrated fruit, oak and malolactic influences are all in perfect harmony. This may not be the longest-lived Heytesbury, but it's a damn fine drop now.

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 96 Points (2022)
A complete package, the 2022 Chardonnay Heytesbury differs markedly from the Estate release from the same vintage with a tighter more composed shape and layered nuances. Crushed nuts, pear and flowerpress aromas are seamlessly intertwined with fine grained oak and smoky gunflint. An excellent upfront generosity of flavor takes a more savory refined line, punctuated by tangy acidity. Length is exceptional and this will build further in time.

James Suckling (JS) : 94 Points (2022)
This vintage is challenging, manifested here as a bony framework with a phenolic edginess. Apricots, truffles, ginger and glazed quince. The acidity, despite the medium body, is all knees and elbows. The finish is not as smooth as it could be. And yet I feel that time will work wonders as things settle down.

James Halliday (JH) : 98 Points (2021)
It’s been a joy to watch the evolution of Heytesbury over the past decade or so, as it's one of the great Australian chardonnays. Whatever vintage conditions have thrown at it, and with tweaks along the way, the nucleus remains steadfast: quality, excellent fruit and a second-to-none level of detail in the winemaking. This is an evocative wine. Pristine and sublime. Funky sulphides rockin’ it while a gossamer thread of acidity holds everything in line – the citrus flavours, the texture, the wine totally enveloping the oak and, while it’s a powerhouse of flavour, there’s a purity to this. It’s such a contrast. How does it achieve that?

Bob Campbell MW (BC) : 97 Points (2021)
"Light-mid yellow colour with a butterscotch overtone to the complex bouquet, toasted nuts, shortbread and rich sweet-fruit middle palate within a taut and disciplined framework. Tremendous line and length: the finish reverberates for a long time. A quite magnificent chardonnay. It's offering more at this tender age than the usual super-reserved Heytesbury." (Huon Hooke, The Real Review) (2/2023)

Wine Spectator (WS) : 94 Points (2021)
Elegant and succulent, with salted butterscotch, a touch of buttery pear pastry and fresh citrus notes that are aromatic and juicy, plus grilled peach, white tea and lemon basil accents. Shows a seamless body and pure acidity, with an impressive overall impression.

Wines & Spirits (W&S) : 95 Points (2020)
Virginia Willcock selects parcels of Gingin-clone chardonnay, blending a wine of earthy tension and heady richness. It’s tight and youthful, buoyed by oak but not encumbered by it. Mellow peach and pear flavors give the impression of sweetness that comes from perfectly ripe fruit, even as the wine feels savory; a tribute to coastal freshness. It offers gentle satisfaction now, and a view to its long life ahead.

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