Far Niente Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Dry, dark and polished. This is a full-bodied Cabernet with ripe fruit and a refined, structured frame. The nose shows blackberry, dark currant and cassis, with cedar and a hint of licorice. The palate brings black cherry, plum and dark chocolate. Toasted French oak adds spice and polish. The tannins are fine-grained and supple, and the finish is long and juicy.

Far Niente was founded in Oakville in 1885, and Cabernet has been its hallmark since 1982. Since 2017 the winery has made this Napa Valley Cabernet alongside its Oakville Estate bottling. Winemaker Nicole Marchesi builds it around estate Oakville fruit, adding lots from sites such as Rutherford, St. Helena and Calistoga. It is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of other Bordeaux varieties. It is aged in French oak and bottled at around 14.5% ABV in a 750 mL bottle.

Generous on release, it also ages well for a decade or more. Decant young bottles for 30 to 60 minutes.