Jim Brand Silent Partner Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

The Silent Partner wines were born as a celebration of his late father by winemaker Sam Brand. They are from the same Cabernet vineyard each year, and always use Jim Brand’s winemaking techniques as a celebrated Coonawarra vigneron. “So 2016 was a nice warm year and you've got that lovely lifted fruit but to me you get the same taste of the vineyard, which is close to the eucalypt trees,” says winemaker Sam Brand. “It has that little bit of mintiness to it and that dried leaf character, but also the consistency of the oak." "Magisterial in every way, the deep garnet hue is worth contemplating for a moment before diving into the rich, expressive nose. There’s blackcurrant and cassis upfront, mint and liquorice but also traces of vanilla, tobacco leaf and black pepper. The backbone is a meaty savouriness that lures you in, before the first sip delivers a velvety texture full of blackcurrant with warming spice. The fine tannins build an elegant structure and there’s just enough acidity to line up a long finish" John Lehmann, The Australian.