VASSE FELIX 'TOM CULLITY' CAB/MALBEC 2018 750ML

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.

The 2018 Tom Cullity Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec is one of the greatest Cabernets to emerge from Margaret River. It was a sensational season: warm and dry, devoid of significant viticultural challenges, profuse in marri blossoms... What more could they ask for. Many producers made their best wines ever in this vintage. The 2018 is floral on the nose, with garden roses (Boscobel, specifically), graphite, pink peppercorns, blackberry, licorice, star anise, clove, raspberry pip, nori and a hint of red/Panang curry (?). It's sensationally structured—firm and ductile—kind of magical in its way. The great thing about this 2018 is that it feels stuck in time. It isn't even starting to evolve, and that's pretty exciting. The forecast (by me) that 2018 could be one of Western Australia's greatest vintages felt premature at the time, but as we start to see these wines embedded in verticals across the Margaret River region specifically, it is showing that early assessment to be pretty spot-on. There are exciting times ahead for this wine. I'd still suggest you don't open the bottles yet. This wine has such a bright future ahead that you would be in danger of truncating its greatness should you choose to exhibit impatience now. It's up to you. Made with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17.5% Malbec and 4.5% Petit Verdot, this had a 100% wild ferment with 100% whole berry and was matured in French oak (59% new) for 18 months. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

The super aristocratic 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Tom Cullity, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, is a densely flavoured and structured wine built for the long haul. It boasts incredible concentration yet retains its focus with ink, blackberry and blueberry fruits supported by a rich vein of new, high quality French oak. Significant volume of flavour follows, with waves of fruit plus a gravelly underbelly. A firm bed of tannins sits comfortably with the fruit and all come together to support an incredibly long finish. Benchmark Margaret River Cabernet.

Reminiscent of Margaret River's towering eucalyptus, marri flowers, 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.

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.