The Cabernet Society | The Somm
From our table to yours, a collection of five decades of moments with the Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon as shared by our Cabernet Society in celebration of the 50th vintage release.
Author | Evan Gill, Estate Sommelier Vasse Felix
In May 2017, I was fortunate enough to be involved in the very special 50th anniversary celebrations at Vasse Felix.
I will never forget the events of Saturday 6 May.
With Paul Holmes à Court welcoming guests on the lawn, I positioned myself inside The Vault museum entrance. My task was to open, taste and decant four bottles of the 1979 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon (coincidentally my birth year vintage), perfectly timed with the entrance of the guests from the lawn.
Four bottles from one of Margaret River's most lauded early vintages.
I set about my task with Paul's welcoming address just making 'earfall' thanks to the sea breeze.
Four bottles, four perfect corks, four incredible sips of a wine that had aged so beautifully. Pure elegance but still so 'present' and alive.
I poured the glasses as the welcome wrapped up and could not wipe the smile from my face as I served guests walking into The Vault, the place where it all began.
The experience was elevated further when David Gregg, winemaker from 1972 until 1989 (and owner from 1984 - 1987) walked in the door.
Along with David there was also a veritable who's who of WA wine.
The quality of these bottles and the guests I poured them for made Saturday 6 May 2017 one of my most memorable wine experiences.
Heritage, provenance, quality and celebration all rolled into one moment, and one wine.
More on 50 Years of Margaret River Cabernet here.