2023 Idee Fixe Premium Blanc de Blancs Brut, Margaret River

Vasse Felix has erected a separate, purpose-built winery to make sparkling wines in the southern part of Margaret River, at the former Watershed site.

Light yellow colour; very fine chardonnay nose, clean and precise, with beeswax and lemon aromas. Tense, refined, crisp and long on the palate. A very subtle toastiness reflecting the wine’s youth. Taut, tensioned, dry finish—lovely line and length. (Cork)

93 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

Idée Fixe. Noun, [ee-dey feeks], French. A fixed idea. Obsession.

The 2023 Idée Fixe Premium Brut from Margaret River is a finely crafted sparkling wine made in the traditional method by the team at Vasse Felix, one of the founding estates of the region. Idée Fixe is dedicated solely to sparkling wine, with a clear focus on purity, finesse and site expression. The Premium Brut is made predominantly from Chardonnay grown in Margaret River’s cooler southern vineyards, delivering precision and freshness with subtle depth from extended lees ageing.

In the glass it is pale straw with a fine, persistent bead. The bouquet is bright and elegant, showing lemon zest, crisp apple and white peach alongside citrus blossom, almond and a touch of brioche. On the palate it is taut and refreshing, with citrus and orchard fruit flavours framed by lively acidity and a chalky mineral backbone. A creamy texture from lees contact brings balance and depth, while the finish is long, dry and precise.

Food pairings highlight its versatility and energy: freshly shucked oysters, scallops with lemon butter, sushi, roast chicken, or goat’s cheese salad. It is a perfect celebratory wine but also an excellent food partner. Best enjoyed young for vibrancy, though it can cellar for 5 to 7 years, gaining nutty, honeyed complexity while maintaining freshness.