Idée Fixe features in Matthew Jukes’ Top 100 Best Australian Wines Report 2023/2024

Jukes recalls his first encounter with Idée Fixe before revealing his thoughts on the vintage 2020 Premier Brut remarking that “It took no more than a nanosecond to realise this is another exquisite wine. The 2019 reminded me of some of my favourite Côte des Blancs classics, and this vintage follows this esteemed theme. Brittle, long, gleamingly fresh and with discreet moments of tenderness along its path.”

Read the full review below.

2020 Idée Fixe, Premier Brut, Blanc de Blancs – Margaret River

I remember tasting Idée Fixe with Vasse Felix owner Paul Holmes à Court last year. His description of where the Idée Fixe grapes come from in Margaret River stuck in my mind. He said, “Super-south, past Stellabella, you drop off ironstone ridge into a faultline of quartz and limestone, far, far south”. I think these directions could easily work as a tasting note, too!

Although Vasse Felix had made traditional method sparkling since the mid-eighties, the 2019 vintage that made last year’s Report was my staggeringly exciting introduction to this wine. In my experience, there is nothing more nervy than the second vintage release, so I was shaking inside when I tasted the 2020. It took no more than a nanosecond to realise this is another exquisite wine. The 2019 reminded me of some of my favourite Côte des Blancs classics, and this vintage follows this esteemed theme. Brittle, long, gleamingly fresh and with discreet moments of tenderness along its path, this is a magical wine with a price tag that should embarrass every Blanc de Blancs specialist in Champagne. The Karridale climate is responsible for the building blocks for this wine, but Paul and his winemaker, Mick Langridge, have stuck to a template that is sure to thrill everyone who has the opportunity to taste this wine.

The full report is available as a digital download via matthewjukes.com