TN: Faber Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

[Waiters Friend]

Although Swan Valley based, Faber also sources grapes from other regions. In this case, the Cabernet is from the Frankland River in the Great Southern.

Deep purple in colour, but possibly not as dark as previous vintages. Blackcurrant predominantly on the nose (not jammy), along with cocoa powder, mulberry and some mixed herbs. The palate is fuller and richer, with the volume turned up on the fruit flavours, with some chocolate adding to the mix. Tannins are quite fine but noticeable, and the wine finishes very long.

This is full-bodied but has some restraint, and it will be interesting to see it in 5 and 10 years' time.

Cheers
Allan

[Waiters Friend]

Four years on, it's time to report on another bottle. Decanted an hour before service, and took a fair amount of swirling in the glass to open up.

The wine retains its deep purple colour, with little sign of lightening. The blackcurrant fruit has softened somewhat (blackberry and mulberry instead), with cocoa, graphite, tobacco, eucalypt and dried herbs emerging. The juicy berries continue through the palate, which also has fine, drying tannins and a good dollop of acid in support. Considerable length and palate weight.

Cheers
Allan

Faber CS.jpg