Far Niente Winery
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley, California, USA
This is a producer I have not had for a while. Sofia and I have attended a couple dinners there in the past. They prepared nice menus and created an even nicer presentation in their cellar.
I bought this because I hadn’t had it in a longtime. Also, I do like 21 vintage quite a lot. It was smartly priced enough to bring back some memories and check on their current craft.
Hour and half decent before detailing my notes.
The nose has beautiful ruby, candied lavender & violets. It does show a bit of hot alcohol. Probably flushes out in time. Dark currants, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, boysenberries, both plums, dark cherries, raspberries and just a whiff of blueberries. Dark chocolate, cedar, fresh & dry tobacco, anise that runs into black licorice with some mid berry cola that wraps it, clove, nutmeg, ground cinnamon to stick, soft vanillin, sweet, dark turned earth with fresh, slightly candied, dark, red flowers wrapped in lavender & violets.
The palate presents a slight alcoholic tongue burn. The M-M+ tannins are round and fairly soft at this stage. The fruits are beautifully ripe; dark currants, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, boysenberries, both plums, dark cherries, raspberries and just a hint of blueberries. It’s kind of lean and not very complex. Especially, for a 21. Dry cedar & dark spices w/ heat burro into your tongue. Dark chocolate, fresh tobacco, anise that runs into black licorice with some mid berry cola, delicate clove, nutmeg, ground cinnamon to stick, soft vanillin, sweet, dark turned earth, w/ slightly dry leaves, dry crushed rocks/limestone, grey volcanic minerals, dry river-stones with fresh, slightly candied, dark, red flowers wrapped in liquid lavender & violets, beautiful acidity with an elegant, ripe, well balanced, softly tensioned finish that lasts a minute falling onto nice, dry earth, spice with bright fruit overtones.
While you should let this one better integrate for another 3 years or so, I don’t think this bottling is a long cellar vintage for them. Thinking it has a window of another 10-15 years. Maybe, 1 or 2 more w/ excellent storage. Likely will add a point w/ the right age.
A decent Napa Cabernet, but underwhelms given the vintage and other 21 offerings I’ve had from Napa producers.
14.5% ABV seems 15.5% at this point.
I’m sure many of you have noticed the wrong grape varietals on the wrong tabs for some time now. Have you noticed that Delectable hasn’t published new weekly tasting notes for two weeks? Is there anyone still working for the app? Will anyone still be able to read our posts tomorrow or the next days going forward? 🤔 Good thing I have been double posting on CellarTracker for awhile now.
This is a producer I have not had for a while. Sofia and I have attended a couple dinners there in the past. They prepared nice menus and created an even nicer presentation in their cellar.
I bought this because I hadn’t had it in a longtime. Also, I do like 21 vintage quite a lot. It was smartly priced enough to bring back some memories and check on their current craft.
Hour and half decent before detailing my notes.
The nose has beautiful ruby, candied lavender & violets. It does show a bit of hot alcohol. Probably flushes out in time. Dark currants, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, boysenberries, both plums, dark cherries, raspberries and just a whiff of blueberries. Dark chocolate, cedar, fresh & dry tobacco, anise that runs into black licorice with some mid berry cola that wraps it, clove, nutmeg, ground cinnamon to stick, soft vanillin, sweet, dark turned earth with fresh, slightly candied, dark, red flowers wrapped in lavender & violets.
The palate presents a slight alcoholic tongue burn. The M-M+ tannins are round and fairly soft at this stage. The fruits are beautifully ripe; dark currants, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, boysenberries, both plums, dark cherries, raspberries and just a hint of blueberries. It’s kind of lean and not very complex. Especially, for a 21. Dry cedar & dark spices w/ heat burro into your tongue. Dark chocolate, fresh tobacco, anise that runs into black licorice with some mid berry cola, delicate clove, nutmeg, ground cinnamon to stick, soft vanillin, sweet, dark turned earth, w/ slightly dry leaves, dry crushed rocks/limestone, grey volcanic minerals, dry river-stones with fresh, slightly candied, dark, red flowers wrapped in liquid lavender & violets, beautiful acidity with an elegant, ripe, well balanced, softly tensioned finish that lasts a minute falling onto nice, dry earth, spice with bright fruit overtones.
While you should let this one better integrate for another 3 years or so, I don’t think this bottling is a long cellar vintage for them. Thinking it has a window of another 10-15 years. Maybe, 1 or 2 more w/ excellent storage. Likely will add a point w/ the right age.
A decent Napa Cabernet, but underwhelms given the vintage and other 21 offerings I’ve had from Napa producers.
14.5% ABV seems 15.5% at this point.
I’m sure many of you have noticed the wrong grape varietals on the wrong tabs for some time now. Have you noticed that Delectable hasn’t published new weekly tasting notes for two weeks? Is there anyone still working for the app? Will anyone still be able to read our posts tomorrow or the next days going forward? 🤔 Good thing I have been double posting on CellarTracker for awhile now.
Tried twice! Blend of 93.3% Cab Sauv, 3.8% Petit Verdot, 2.3% Cab Franc, 0.5% Merlot & 0.1% Malbec, aged for 17 months in French oak, 65% new, deep dark Ruby with elegant pronounced aromas of ripe dark fruits, cedar and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, ripe cherry and currants with notes of mushroom, herbs, pepper spice and earthy notes. Fine big sweet tannins, long finish ending with cacao, smoky oak, vanilla, fruit and mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward!
Tried twice! Blend of 93.3% Cab Sauv, 3.8% Petit Verdot, 2.3% Cab Franc, 0.5% Merlot & 0.1% Malbec, aged for 17 months in French oak, 65% new, deep dark Ruby with elegant pronounced aromas of ripe dark fruits, cedar and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, ripe cherry and currants with notes of mushroom, herbs, pepper spice and earthy notes. Fine big sweet tannins, long finish ending with cacao, smoky oak, vanilla, fruit and mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward!
Jun 15th, 2022Blend of 93.3% Cab Sauv, 3.8% Petit Verdot, 2.3% Cab Franc, 0.5% Merlot & 0.1% Malbec, aged for 17 months in French oak, 65% new, deep dark Ruby with elegant pronounced aromas of ripe dark fruits, cedar and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, ripe cherry and currants with notes of mushroom, herbs, pepper spice and earthy notes. Fine big sweet tannins, long finish ending with cacao, smoky oak, vanilla, fruit and mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward!
Blend of 93.3% Cab Sauv, 3.8% Petit Verdot, 2.3% Cab Franc, 0.5% Merlot & 0.1% Malbec, aged for 17 months in French oak, 65% new, deep dark Ruby with elegant pronounced aromas of ripe dark fruits, cedar and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry, ripe cherry and currants with notes of mushroom, herbs, pepper spice and earthy notes. Fine big sweet tannins, long finish ending with cacao, smoky oak, vanilla, fruit and mineral tang. Very nice, aging well, but time will reward!
Apr 18th, 2022
Pretty tasty. New sku for these guys.
Pretty tasty. New sku for these guys.
May 22nd, 2019A blend of 89% Cab Sauv, 6% Merlot, 3% Petite Verdot & 2% Cab Franc, from Martin Stelling Vineyard, planted on gravelly loam soil, aged 17 mos in French oak, 68% new. Dark Ruby with aromas of black and dried red fruits, toasty herbs and earthiness. On the palate blackberry, black cherry and cassis with vanilla, cacao and espresso. Well balanced, fine tannins, a touch of toasty oak carrying this wine to a long finish, and room to age. Tasting Sample!
A blend of 89% Cab Sauv, 6% Merlot, 3% Petite Verdot & 2% Cab Franc, from Martin Stelling Vineyard, planted on gravelly loam soil, aged 17 mos in French oak, 68% new. Dark Ruby with aromas of black and dried red fruits, toasty herbs and earthiness. On the palate blackberry, black cherry and cassis with vanilla, cacao and espresso. Well balanced, fine tannins, a touch of toasty oak carrying this wine to a long finish, and room to age. Tasting Sample!
1 person found it helpfulSep 11th, 2020
At a beautiful point 25 years in. love 90s Napa. Aromatic and lovely red fruits with smooth tannins and enthralling earthy notes.
At a beautiful point 25 years in. love 90s Napa. Aromatic and lovely red fruits with smooth tannins and enthralling earthy notes.
Oct 23rd, 2016
Heavy dk ruby color. Nose of black cherry and oak. Rich and expansive in the mouth. Tannins nicely integrated. Good finish.
Heavy dk ruby color. Nose of black cherry and oak. Rich and expansive in the mouth. Tannins nicely integrated. Good finish.
Mar 7th, 20161982 vintage. Showing great fruit. Beyond a pleasant surprise!
1982 vintage. Showing great fruit. Beyond a pleasant surprise!
Jun 21st, 2015
clear, bright garnet, minimal rim variation, medium + viscosity. Nose; clean, medium + intensity, youthful, ripe red and black fruits. chocolate covered black cherries, woodsy forest, maybe pine? palate; dry, full body, medium acid, medium + alc ( 14.5, balanced) medium tannins, medium + complexity (its a baby, needs time, it’s tight), medium length. rate 9 2018 tasted 9/2020
clear, bright garnet, minimal rim variation, medium + viscosity. Nose; clean, medium + intensity, youthful, ripe red and black fruits. chocolate covered black cherries, woodsy forest, maybe pine? palate; dry, full body, medium acid, medium + alc ( 14.5, balanced) medium tannins, medium + complexity (its a baby, needs time, it’s tight), medium length. rate 9 2018 tasted 9/2020
Sep 18th, 2020