Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay 2023

A Margaret River Chardonnay accessible by all measures: style, price- point and wide distribution. There aren’t many wines, let alone Chardonnays, that can tick all of those boxes, and Vasse Felix has done a fantastic job with Filius. 2023 was also a bumper year for quality and yield, so this is bound to please all involved, including the drinker. Inviting stone fruit starts the journey with a sprinkle of white spring blossom, plenty of nutmeg and toasty spice, lemon pith, saline crunch and some creamy lemon and almond nougat notes underpinning things. The palate has a mouth-quenching quiver of acidity to it, with layered phenolics, a creamy core, and chewy and pithy textural interest. There’s a hint of excitement, yet plenty of polish rounding this out to provide an agreeable drinking experience that walks the line of consumer-friendliness with pinches of  tension to compel seasoned Chardonnay enthusiasts. A saline and savoury finish strays into slightly bitter territory at times, but there’s much to love and good length too. Drink now to 2029.