Vasse Felix Adams Road Shiraz 2002

An excellent example of the Margaret River style of Shiraz, the deeply colored 2002 Vasse Felix Adams Road displays an intense, seductive aroma of blackberry, plum, eucalyptus, pepper, and aniseed – all of which follow through on the palate. In addition, this purple potion offers up lavish quantities of ripe, textured fruit that are suitably underpinned by good acidity and a tight, balanced structure. Reminiscent of the great Syrah wines of France’s Rhône Valley, the 2002 Vasse Felix Adams Road also exhibits a nice touch of terroir in the form of mineral, slate, and subtle earth tones. All of this sensual pleasure culminates in a long dry finish that contains a judicious hint of oak, which contributes further to the wine’s overall character and dimension. All of this bodes well for the future development of the 2002 Adams Road Shiraz, but this latest offering from Janet Holmes à Court is so pleasurable now, it is doubtful that a single bottle will make it to full maturity. For optimal enjoyment, we suggest you allow this wine to breathe for at least thirty minutes before serving. And like most Shiraz, we advise serving it at cool room temperature (64°-68°) to suit most palates.

Packed with flavor but beautifully balanced, the 2002 Vasse Felix Adams Road Shiraz can play host to all kinds of well prepared foods from simple vegetarian pleasures to the finest carnivorous fare. Filet mignon or beef tenderloin, served medium rare with grilled or sautéed portabella mushrooms, is one of our favorite choices with this wine. In this case, the wine and the beef truly complement each other, allowing for the full flavor of each to be released in tandem. Lamb, rabbit, venison, and rich stews provide other excellent choices with the Adams Road Shiraz. The more adventuresome among you may even want to try a kangaroo steak, one of Western Australia’s perennial favorites, with this wine. Homemade lasagna and either eggplant or zucchini parmigiana also make rewarding partners to this classically wrought Shiraz. Serving these Italian classics with a rich homemade marinara, containing plenty of fresh herbs, only adds to the pleasure. Lastly, several appreciative guests are great accompaniments to the 2002 Vasse Felix Shiraz as well. Enjoy!

Vasse Felix is the oldest commercial vineyard and winery in Western Australia. Many critics also consider it to be the finest winery in the state. It produces award winning Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot among reds and a bevy of excellent whites, including Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. Thanks to astute winemaking and an ideal terroir, Vasse Felix consistently fashions compelling wines, which have served to put Western Australia on the viticultural map and raise the eyebrows of the world’s true connoisseurs. At the same time, Vasse Felix has inspired others in Australia’s largest state to follow suit. The name Vasse Felix is derived from the Latin word for luck (Felix) and the name of an early 19th century French sailor (Vasse) who died while exploring the section of the captivating coast of Western Australia we now know as the Margaret River. At first, the name may seem quite ironic, but to anyone who has ever caught a glimpse of this eye-popping place, pure good fortune and a perpetually smiling face are no exaggerations when speaking of this enchanted land. Therefore, to die in such a place is far more fortunate than never to have seen it. Vasse Felix lies tucked among the folds of low hills of the Margaret River, a green temperate corner of Western Australia that sits beside the sea. Here the Margaret River cuts through wooded hills and steep ridges carpeted with wild flowers, before sighing almost inaudibly into the gleaming Indian Ocean. Crystalline waters and high rolling surf offer Australia’s finest surfing as well as its most compelling seascapes. These very same waters, along with steady ocean breezes, a unique soil, and a Mediterranean climate also make Margaret River one of the finest natural wine producing areas on earth and a great place to peacefully whittle away the time. In the early1960’s, a scholar named John Gladstone was the first to recognize and publicize Margaret River’s special climate, soil, and conditions known as terroir. In a detailed account Gladstone wrote glowingly of the similarities between the finest wine producing regions of Bordeaux and Margaret River. Moreover, he extolled the perfect weather of Margaret River for the cultivation of the vine, especially for the traditional Bordeaux varietals. And, indeed, Gladstone’s proclamation has proven to be more than just wishful thinking, surpassing even his own expectations: In the past three decades the Margaret River has established itself as a world-class wine producing region for Shiraz and Chardonnay as well as the traditional Bordeaux varietals. In 1967, just two years after Gladstone’s initial report on the soils and climate of the Margaret River, Dr. Tom Cullity planted vines at the present property and Vasse Felix came to life. Twenty years later, the estate was purchased by the Holmes à Court family. Today, Vasse Felix continues its pursuit of excellence under the leadership of Mrs. Janet Holmes à Court, who seems bent on taking this showcase property to the next level. Fortunately or unfortunately, and that depends upon one’s perspective, Margaret River remains widely unknown to the average wine consumer in the United States. Presently, Margaret River produces less than 2% of Australia’s wine, despite extensive planting in the last three decades. Yet, the Margaret River garners a higher proportion of gold medals and trophies for its wines than any other viticultural region of Australia – a tribute to the Margaret River’s dedication to premium varietals, quality winemaking, and outstanding terroir.