Uncovering a Chardonnay Sweet Spot, the Vasse Felix Boodjidup Vineyard
Margaret River Chardonnay is renowned for its powerful fruit flavours, bright acidity and immense complexity.
As a general rule, Chardonnay vines prefer heavier soils with high clay content and good moisture retention, their weaker root system requiring the support of these dense and fertile soil sections. Chardonnay also tends to thrive in a slightly cooler climate, something we are blessed with in Margaret River, with the extreme maritime influence.
The Boodjidup Vineyard, in particular our J Block, sits in Margaret River’s sweet spot for Chardonnay, an area with the highest rainfall and cooler temperatures which create the perfect environment for growing elegant and powerful Chardonnay.
These conditions enable our fruit to retain its incredible fresh acidity and unique al dente tension, whilst also encouraging the prolific growth of wild yeast (essential to our wild fermentation program).
The quality coming out of the Boodjidup Vineyard is very exciting to see and will continue to develop our premium Chardonnay offering here at Vasse Felix.
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BOODJIDUP VINEYARD
First Planted 1997
Locality Wallcliffe
Soils Gravel and sandy loam Altitude Range 75 - 95m
Vine Area 115ha
Icon & Premier Wines
J Block Micro-climate Located in a valley of sorts on a south facing slope, it is quite protected and sees reduced sunlight, creating the cool micro climate our Chardonnay thrives on. Its location between the Boodjidup Brook (our vineyard’s namesake) on one side and the vineyard dam on the other ensures the vines have plentiful access to water, with just enough clay in the soils to support the delicate Chardonnay root systems.