Varietal: Â 78% Cabernet Sauvignon; 17% Merlot; 3% Petit Verdot; 1% Malbec; 1% Cabernet Franc
Region: Â Napa Valley, California – USA
Cost: Â $50 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Â Bright, smooth, and rich ruby color with captivating aromas of black currant, red cherry, and spice are lifted out of the glass. The wine is inviting with a supple mouth-feel and notes of cassis, dark chocolate, and ripe berries. The layers of complexity continue to develop throughout a silky finish. The 2011 is ready to drink upon release, but will continue to age gracefully and develop over five to six years.
My Review:Â My sense of humor has been called odd, off-putting, and several other things throughout the years, some of them complimentary, others less so. I say this because this recent Easter, when families were gathering to celebrate their religious holiday, my wife and I stayed in, cooked some dinner, and opened up a bottle of 2011 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon that had been sent to me.
I at least found it amusing. On to the wine.
While we cooked our dinner (a large spread that involved steak, crab legs, asparagus, and potatoes), I let the wine open up in a decanter. Giving it a few swirls, I noticed slashes of dark purple within the ruby red color of the wine, something I typically associate with Petit Verdot.
On the nose the wine showed black currant was most prevelant for me, though there were hints of spice later on – I suspect I’m less sensitive to that aroma. In the mouth the wine was smooth, both at the first sip and on the finish. Dark chocolate and berry jumped out for me, which while perhaps not the best with the crab legs, were amazing with the steak I had (perfectly) grilled.
I’ve had Faust Cabernet Sauvignon in the past, a 2006 vintage, and while I don’t remember enough of it to really compare this one to that, I do remember that I enjoyed it then, much as I enjoyed this one. While the winemaker’s notes are correct and this wine is emminently drinkable right now, I’d be real interested to see it after another few years of cellaring – a luxury I’m rarely afforded when writing reviews for this site.
If you’re looking for a more premium bottle of wine you can do a lot worse than the 2011 Faust. If you’ve got the patience, and space, to let it sit for some time, I’d definitely recommend it, but by no means are you going to be disappointed by opening it now to enjoy.
Editor’s Note: I recieved this bottle of wine as a free sample for review.
