2012 Vasse Felix Chardonnay
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Tasting notes
Greenish straw. An exotic, highly perfumed bouquet evokes dried pear, lemon pith, anise and ganja, along with a dusty mineral overtone. Dry and mineral-driven on the palate, offering intense citrus and orchard fruit flavors that put on weight with air. Finishes on a bitter quince note, with resonating minerality and strong thrust.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Fermented in French oak. Very pale. Creamy, bone dry, tangy, citrus peel. Salty. Finishes just a bit suddenly. (JR)
More restrained on the nose than the 2011 but rich and creamy and mealy on the palate. A little more floral, perhaps. Less depth in the the mid palate (caused by a hot spell, apparently). (JH)
The nose of the 2012 Chardonnay gives delicate peach and grapefruit notes with touches of lightly browned toast and struck match. Light to medium-bodied with just enough stone fruit flavor and a pleasant citrus lift, it has a racy acid line leading to a long finish. Drink it now to 2016+. Importer: Negociants USA, Napa, CA; Tel. (707) 259-0993.
About the producer
Vasse Felix was the first winery in Margaret River, founded in 1967. Today, it is one of Western Australia’s – and the New World’s – most respected names, crafting outstanding, cool-climate Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from this remote region, south of Perth.