Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Merlot 2013 Wine Review

Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Merlot 2013

South Australia, Australia

Community Score:89/100

Community Reviews: 8

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Price: $24.95

Drink: 2014-2018

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 14.5%

Sweetness: Extra Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Winery: Vasse Felix

Agent: Breakthru Beverage Canada Inc.

Natalie's Score: 91/100

Full-bodied with blackberry and mint and smoke. Smooth with a long finish. Pair with prime rib.

This Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Merlot 2013 was reviewed on May 28, 2016 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2015

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Pricing & Stock Information

LCBO
446682
$24.95
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Reviews and Ratings

Courtney Flood rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Seductive blueberry, cherry, anise, sandalwood, and chocolate. Smokey tobacco. Lively blackberry and cracked black pepper on the palate. This wine is a great experience!

Pair with black beans mole: http://mjskitchen.com/2014/11/black-bean-mole/

Wineboy rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Lovely power and richness - just what Australia built it's name on. Full throttle fruit with a significant dose of oak, smoke and mocha. Good Value.

Bill Wright Sommelier rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Smoke, oak and mocha on the nose. Powerful fruit and tannin. Medium body with strong red fruits. Nice wine.
Tasted April 3/16

Jacky Blisson rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Brilliant dark ruby. Elegant, moderately intense aromas of cassis, cigar box and violets. Medium bodied, with vibrant acidity, tart, juicy fruit flavours that lift the mid-palate and pretty floral and tobacco notes lingering on the finish. Well integrated cedar oak. Firm, fine grained tannins. Still quite tightly knit, needs a little time to unwind.

Jennifer Havers - WSET Level 3 rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Aromas are mostly spice (mint) and oak, with some red currant and plum coming through. Fruit is more tart on the palate, acid is bright and the tannins are light to medium. the Merlot gives this some nice body. Try with a steak.

Devon rated this wine as 88/100 with the following review:

Lovely wine. Lots of ripe black berry, hint of green fig and violet on the nose. The palate brings out some nice notes of vanilla, black pepper, and bell pepper. A dynamic wine that can keep your senses entertained every sip. Very versatile pairing with any red meat done medium rare.

UPC 9315032001194

2013 FILIUS CABERNET MERLOT
This wine comes from the northern part of Margaret River where optimal ripeness is assured. Maturation in French oak barriques provides complexity to this generous, elegant and structured wine. The dry tannin structure of Cabernet Sauvignon is mellowed by the soft generous body of Merlot. A small amount of Malbec accentuates both varieties providing depth of colour, aroma, flavour and structure.
Filius translates to ‘son of’ in Latin, describing the relationship between these wines and their Premier ‘fathers’. The wines are made in a ‘Premier’ style from fruit with greater opulence and generosity sourced from all of the Vasse Felix Vineyards.
TASTING NOTES
VARIETIES 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Malbec
APPEARANCE Deep maroon/red with a red hue.
NOSE Subdued, fine, complex, savoury nose with small red and black berries, cassis, the smell of a summer Aussie forest, hints of Mexican chocolate, cumin and dried herbs with a touch of vanilla.
PALATE A luscious entrance with medium body carrying cassis, red berries, a hint of herb and spiced oak flavours heading to a fresh and fine tannin dry finish. Vanilla dough and cassis flavour remains.
WINEMAKER COMMENTS
The individual batches were crushed separately into stainless steel fermentation vessels. Cabernet parcels underwent a suitable duration of maceration so as extract a fine backbone of structural tannins and blackcurrant laden fruit. The Merlot parcels underwent cold pre-fermentation maceration and were pressed off skins early to maintain a soft luscious mouth feel. The resulting wine was matured in fine French oak for 12 months, with incorporation of traditional oxidative handling, to soften and round the tannin profile and add further aroma and flavour complexity.
VINTAGE DESCRIPTION
Moderate spring temperatures accompanied by low solar radiation and cool soil conditions contributed to slower vine growth and increased disease pressure. Thankfully, a consistently warm and dry summer ensured clean canopies and another early start to the white harvest. Rapidly cooling weather in March allowed extended ripening time for the reds and more traditional harvest timing through late March into April.
HARVESTED March - April 2013
OAK 100% French Oak, 12 months (8% new, 92% 1-5 year old)
TA 6.4g/L PH 3.45
RESIDUAL SUGAR 0.45g/L
ALCOHOL 14.5%
BOTTLED September 2014
CELLARING Will reward medium term cellaring.
www.vassefelix.com.au

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Vasse Felix Filius Cabernet Merlot 2013 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 91/100

Pricing & Stock Information