Vasse Felix Heytesbury Red 2005 Friday, May 9 2008
Tasting Notes and Australia and Margaret River and Variety and Red and cabernet et al
I’m having a couple of major problems with all these 2005 Margaret River Cabernets, namely those of limited funds and finite capacity. This year’s Heytesbury is all Margaret River with just a sneaky little addition of 5% Shiraz and is a barrel selection rather than a single vineyard wine (as per usual). There won’t be a 2006 vintage release so the intention is to stretch this out until the 2007 Heytesbury becomes available.
Flamboyant, complex and highly aromatic with a mix of ripe cherry and cassis, violet, dark chocolate and spice tempered by more herbal influences of peppermint, gum leaf and snapped green twigs. It’s also appropriately gravelly and earthy as is the way with the best Margaret River Cabernets. On the palate full bodied and flooded with ripe cassis and cherry fruit, dried herbs and mocha flavours - a wine of considerable impact, depth and drama. It has strong ripe chalky tannins, superb balance and a long dry finish. A wine that resonates in the memory long after tasting.
Rated : 96 Points
Tasted : May08
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $70
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2014 - 2020+
Source : Winery Sample
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May 9th, 2008 at 2:13 pm| Quote |
Sounds most alluring. How does it compare to the current Voyager Estate cabernet merlot? Better quality? Different style? Thanks.
May 9th, 2008 at 2:36 pm| Quote |
Well different vintages for current releases - one warmer (2004) and one cooler (2005) but the Vasse probably has sweeter cassis fruit but with a distinct (but attractive) green top notes. Maybe a more succulent wine and the Voyager a bit more hmmmm serious perhaps. I like the both. Ideally I’d have a couple of each + a couple of the 05 Moss Wood.
GW
PS. And I very specifically use cassis here as it is NOT the same thing as blackcurrant - it’s the richer smell of the liqueur over that of the fruit. It annoys me people that bang on about this word. I have even read winemakers go on about “blackcurrant and cassis in the same sentence ..what idiots” blah blah.
May 14th, 2008 at 4:10 pm| Quote |
I’ve recently drank the 2004 Heytesbury Red and found it to be a good wine with a good finish and i think the wine will age well. Lots of cherries & cassis with some forrest floor notes. Score: 90-91.
May 14th, 2008 at 7:45 pm| Quote |
TonyTwoTimes said :
What does that sort of pont score mini-range mean? Just make a decision or toss a coin…
May 15th, 2008 at 1:40 pm| Quote |
Tossed a coin…90 points…mini point ranges based on a particular bottle’s impression…very difficult concept and can see when you were annoyed.
Cheers.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:11 pm| Quote |
TonyTwoTimes said :
I was more amused than annoyed, it’s not a difficult concept at all. I can see a possible use where the reviewer is hedging bets on how the wine may age and giving two scores for now and (possibly) later, but a 1 point (or 2 point if you are zero-based) range is pretty meaningless to me. For most reviewers I treat scores of 90 to 94 as pretty much the same and only take much notice of 1-point increments at 95 or over, if then.