2019 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon Filius Margaret River Australia 750 ml

Wine Spectator once wrote that the best Margaret River wines stand “in the top rank of the world.” And few wineries are as firmly entrenched in the region’s top tier as Vasse Felix. 

They earned New World Winery of the Year honors from Wine Enthusiast and were called “one of Australia’s treasures” and “one of the region's standard-bearers” by the Wine Advocate. In 2019, they crafted a wonderfully structured Filius with Cabernet from each of their four estate vineyards, showcasing all the depth and elegance that have put Australian Cabernets on the world stage.

Surrounded on three sides by the Indian and Southern Oceans, Margaret River’s generous sunshine and Mediterranean climate are as enticing to winemakers as they are surfers and bronze-tanned tourists. Ample sunlight, cool sea breezes, and dry ripening seasons awaken fine tannin structure and complexity, a terroir James Halliday has called “Bordeaux-like.”

Yet this Filius Cabernet is far from mimicry. Almost 80% of the region’s plant species don’t live anywhere else in the world, a completely distinct ecosystem that gives Margaret River wines their own unique flair, encapsulating the essence of its rich terroir. “Margaret River is on the cutting edge of elegant Cabernet,” Vasse Felix winemaker Virginia Willcock told us. “It’s got elegant lines, but it’s still got the beautiful tannin structure and power that you’d want to have with a meal.”

Vasse Felix is among the best representations of Margaret River style because they helped mold it, planting the very first vines in the region. And over the years, they’ve only fine-tuned their approach, turning up the quality dial year after year. As Virginia told us: “I’ve become a lot more hands-off, allowing the wines to express themselves a lot better. I have to say, I think the style of wine I’m making now is about 50 times better than the style of wine I was making 15 years ago.” 

The 2019 Filius perfectly balances the ripeness evoked by the region’s generous sunshine with the freshness and acidity its marine influence invites. Aromas of fresh black fruit, mint, and wet gravel lead into notes of wild violet, graphite, and a touch of camphor on an assertive palate with gorgeous structure. 

Take a sip and you’ll see why James Halliday’s Wine Companion noted that the Filius bottling has “built a loyal following for its supple deliciousness,” and why Wine Enthusiast has said it “neatly demonstrates a power play of muscle and restraint that Margaret River Cabs deliver.”

In Margaret River’s 2019 vintage, “the standout was Cabernet Sauvignon,” said the Wine Companion. And that Cabernet revealed its depth during its eleven-month rest in French oak, developing its warmth and enticing structure. It’s fantastic right now, but cellaring for several years will only uncover further complexity.