The 25 Swan Valley Sparkling Wines of Christmas 2014 – 23rd December
Faber Vineyard 2011 Blanc de Blanc Chardonnay
Faber Vineyard 2011 Blanc de Blanc ChardonnayI haven’t yet made it to visit Faber Vineyard but I know I need too!! I did meet owner and winemaker John Griffiths at Viva Verdelho 2013 and he is a great laugh (see picture at the bottom of this post). Faber is known through the Valley for their fabulous wines and their amazing long-table lunches, sundowners and wine tastings.
The 2011 Blanc de Blanc Chardonnay sells for approximately $32 per bottle at the cellar door. The Chardonnay grapes were hand harvested and then chilled overnight in preparation for being put through the press the following morning. The grapes are whole bunch pressed so the fruit is not crushed, just squeezed gently to extract the best juice from the grapes for the wine.
Tasting Note
On the eye it is a pastel silk yellow with aromas of honeydew melon, citrus fruits and a touch of pineapple with a bready backbone. On the palate it has a beautiful effervescence with subtle butter and nutty flavours. It is a lot more savoury on the palate compared to the fruit characteristics on the nose. This bubbles would be a great match to all those little nibbly bits and pieces you eat over the festive season from the fruits and nuts to the cheese and crackers.
About Faber Vineyard in the Swan Valley
Faber was established by John Griffiths & Jane Micallef in 1997 in Baskerville. The first vines were planted in 1998 which were Shiraz vines and the first wines to be produced were in 2000.
John has an affinity for Shiraz and Verdelho which thrive in the Swan Valley wine region. Alongside these, they also grow Chardonnay, Muscat and Petit Verdot at the Swan Valley vineyard.
What is the story behind the name you ask? Faber is actually Latin for a smith, a craftsman, an artisan; skilled, ingenious. What I really like on the Faber website is this quote; “We chose the name Faber because we believe winemaking is a craft, a skill learnt but never perfected”.
The cellar door is open 11am-4pm Friday through to Sunday for tastings.
Contact Faber Vineyard..
- Faber Vineyard’s website
- Faber Vineyard’s Facebook page
- Address: 233 Haddrill Road, Baskerville WA 6056
- Phone: 08 9296 0209 or 0417 095 820
- Email: [email protected]
