Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Malbec 2018

Vasse Felix Tom Cullity Cabernet Malbec 2018

 

Zoom Mouse over image to zoom
Vasse Felix
Tom Cullity Cabernet Malbec 2018
  • Vintage : 2018
  • Country : Australia
  • Region : Margaret River
  • Subregion :
  • Type : Red
  • Style : Rich and Spicy
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 14,5°
  • Grappes : 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot

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.

Experts Score Vintage
JH James Halliday 99 2018
RP Robert Parker 99 2018
JS James Suckling 98 2018
WE Wine Enthusiast 97 2018
DCT Decanter 96 2018
W&S Wines & Spirits 94 2018
More information on wine critics and ratings

Winemaker's Notes:  Slightly lower yields in our old Malbec blocks, combined with an incredibly precise Cabernet vintage has seen the portion of Malbec reduced slightly this year. All blocks were destemmed only, without crushing and then allowed to ferment naturally. The Petit Verdot, a small section of Malbec and small portion of Cabernet (making up 24%) were open fermented, hand plunged and pressed dry. The remaining 76% of the Cabernet and Malbec was static-fermented, gently pumped over through a splash tub and then left on skins for up to 34 days; allowing the wine to stabilise and become structurally sound in such a brilliant year for tannin ripeness. The small sections were basket pressed to fine French oak and matured for 18 months with minimal racking.

Colour: Light maroon with a purple tinge.

Nose: A very pointed and pristine perfume with immense complexity. Lively fruit from this vintage is preserved precisely. The oak and savoury complexity is intricately interwoven yet the immense power of the fruit, while delicate, is brimming with character. Notes of red currant, cranberry jam and raspberry pips give way to agar, gravel, a hint of peppermint tree, mushroom and bark.

Palate: The palate is vibrant with mouth-watering cranberry freshness and while light, is juicy, precise and balanced with remarkable fine grained tannins. Long cassis and cherry pip flavoured tannins create a dry and fine finish. A significant Cabernet of uniquely delicate proportions.

James Halliday (JH) : 99 Points (2018)
This wine is the benchmark of the latent power, grace and inherent balance of the 2018 vintage in Margaret River. Texturally similar to the classically sophisticated 2014 vintage, but with far greater density and weight. Here, the savoury tannins are countersunk into the fruit already: shapely, firm, chewy, malleable – everywhere and nowhere at once. Waves of blood plum, cassis, blackberry, pomegranate, juniper, raspberries, saltbush, bay leaf and salted red licorice crash against the rocks, as kelp, nori, iodine, red gravel and brine ride the smaller sets out the back. Sensational. Astounding. A wine for the ages. (7/2022)

Robert Parker (RP) : 99 Points (2018)
The 2018 vintage can comfortably be described as being one of the greatest, if not the greatest vintage in Margaret River's 55-year modern history (i.e., since 1967). When this 2018 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec was released, it was both satisfying and terrifying. The former, because it confirmed everything I had suspected/hoped prior to its release. The latter because it would force me to put my neck on the line and give it the score I believe it deserves. Having seen it blind a number of times in esteemed international company, I am comfortable that this wine more than stands up alongside its counterparts from Bordeaux and Napa in the 2018 vintage. It is a marvelous example of Margaret River Cabernet, in that it offers us red raspberry, pomegranate, cassis and red licorice, alongside pink peppercorns, nori, sun-dried kelp, hints of iodine and earth, and all of it framed by ferrous tannins. It is fresh, it is structured, it is incredibly long. It will live forever.

James Suckling (JS) : 98 Points (2018)
A great edition of the top Cabernet blend from Vasse Felix, this has a lot of power and depth. The aromas run from red to blue and dark berries with a leafy edge and attractive, fresh florals. The palate has a core of blue-toned fruit flavor that drives so deep, with a helix-like interplay of acidity and tannin. Impressive. Drink over the next decade or more.

Wine Enthusiast (WE) : 97 Points (2018)
Reminiscent of Margaret River’s towering eucalyptus, marri flow- ers, dusty red earth and salty Indian Ocean breeze. red currant and black cherry swirl with graphite, iodine, savory spice and dried violets. Powerful and poised, with downright sexy tannins that cradle the fruit rather than cinch it.

Decanter (DCT) : 96 Points (2018)
A deep, rich, sensual nose and attack reflects a long, dry, warm Indian summer which extended the ripening period. Reveals dark chocolate, balsamic and delicious vibrato cigar box layers to the plush blackcurrant, black and blue berry fruit. Green coffee bean, sage, terracotta, cooler graphite and cut-finger nuances build. Dynamic, lacy tannins and mineral acidity contain and extend the fruit on a long, brooding finish. (5/2022)

Wines & Spirits (W&S) : 94 Points (2018)
There’s a brilliant freshness to the bold red fruit of this wine, an oceanic note of the cool winds through the jarrah forests west of Caves Road. It’s a blend of cabernet sauvignon and malbec, most all of the fruit from the original vines at the Wilyabrup blocks Tom Cullity established in 1967. The alcohol in the wine reads as earthy spice, elevating the cassis and forest-berry notes, taking the soft fullness of fruit toward a tight, focused clarity that lasts.

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
WS
93
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
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’.
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 Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
Vasse Felix
Filius Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
WS
93
WE
90
W&S
90
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.
24,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Wine regions guide
135,00 €
Quantity : Moins     Plus
 
 
We also suggest...
Australia
93 James Suckling
Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay 2021
Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay 2021
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’.
Filius Chardonnay 2021
24,90 €
Australia
Torbreck Old Vines GSM 2019
Torbreck Old Vines GSM 2019
Celebrating the character of old vines, Torbreck Old Vines GSM delivers a medium-bodied red that balances red fruit intensity with refined tannins and a long, harmonious finish.
Old Vines GSM 2019
20,90 €
Italy
100 Vinous (Antonio Galloni)
Castello di Ama Vigneto La Casuccia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019
Castello di Ama Vigneto La Casuccia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019
A masterpiece of Tuscan winemaking, La Casuccia 2019 captivates with its intense aromas, complex structure, and a finish that lingers gracefully on the palate, marking it as a true benchmark for Chianti Classico.
Vigneto La Casuccia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2019
295,00 €
Switzerland
Cave des Amandiers Cuvée Safran - Grain Noble 2009
Cave des Amandiers Cuvée Safran - Grain Noble 2009
Cuvée Safran - Grain Noble 2009
145,00 €
Chile
93+ Robert Parker
De Martino Las Olvidadas Guarilihue Mezcla Tinta 2021
De Martino Las Olvidadas Guarilihue Mezcla Tinta 2021
De Martino Las Olvidadas is a vibrant and complex field blend of País (80%) and the rare San Francisco (20%), showcasing the unique heritage of Itata Valley, Chile. This wine is light-bodied yet deeply structured, offering a blend of red fruit, floral, and herbal notes.
Las Olvidadas Guarilihue Mezcla Tinta 2021
44,50 €
South Africa
94+ Robert Parker
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2020
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2020
The Kanonkop Paul Sauer is a powerful and elegant Bordeaux-style blend from South Africa, recognized for its precision, depth, and long ageing potential.
Paul Sauer 2020
64,90 €