Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Region and Vineyards

Far Niente's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon draws on a mosaic of vineyard sources across Oakville, Rutherford, Calistoga, and St. Helena—each contributing distinctive attributes to the final blend. The Oakville estate, at the heart of Napa Valley, forms the wine's backbone with its gravelly, well-drained soils and classic cassis-driven power. Rutherford adds earthiness and spice through its famed "dusty" character, while Calistoga and St. Helena provide ripe fruit concentration and plushness thanks to their warmer microclimates.

This carefully curated selection of sites enables Far Niente to articulate a wine of balance, depth and regional typicity, reflecting the estate's four-decade pursuit of excellence with Napa Cabernet.

Winemaking

The 2021 vintage followed a second consecutive drought year, with minimal winter rainfall and a windy spring, which brought early budbreak and bloom. The summer was mild, with few heat spikes, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and retain exceptional aromatic concentration. Harvest began mid-September in Calistoga and extended through mid-October, with small berries yielding intense color and flavor.

The blend includes 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, enhanced by 6.5% Merlot, 2.5% Malbec, 2.5% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% Cabernet Franc—each component layered to build richness, structure, and complexity. After 12 days of skin contact, the wine was matured for 17 months in French oak (62% new, 38% once-used), imparting texture, spice, and supple tannins.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep garnet with youthful violet reflections, signaling richness and vitality.
• Aroma: Aromatic depth of dark plum, red cherry, licorice, and warm baking spices.
• Palate: Plush and silky, with flavours of spiced plum, cherry compote, and cassis. Framed by fine-grained tannins and bright acidity, the finish is long, polished, and refined.

Did you know?

Far Niente's Cabernet Sauvignon program began with its inaugural 1982 vintage, and the winery has since established itself as a leading name in estate-driven Napa Valley Cabernet, known for its commitment to elegance, precision viticulture, and ageability.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Grilled dry-aged ribeye with rosemary jus: Elevates the wine's dark fruit and spice profile.
• Duck breast with cherry glaze: The wine's acidity and plush texture match beautifully with the rich meat and tart fruit.
• Roasted eggplant with pomegranate and tahini: A bold vegetarian pairing highlighting the wine's earthy and spicy notes.
• Hard aged cheeses, such as Manchego or Comté: Complement the wine's silky tannins and lingering red fruit finish.

History of Far Niente Estate:

Far Niente’s roots date back to 1885, when John Benson established the estate in Oakville. The name “Far Niente” is derived from the Italian phrase meaning “the sweetness of doing nothing,” a philosophy reflecting the art of living in the moment. Designed by Hamden McIntyre, the winery was a gravity-flow structure, innovative for its time.

The winery thrived until Prohibition in 1919, when it was abandoned and left untouched for more than six decades. In 1979, the Nickel family purchased and painstakingly restored the estate, reviving its original 19th-century charm. Winemaking resumed in 1982, when Far Niente produced its first Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Since then, it has become a standard-bearer for Napa Valley wines, under the leadership of winemaker Nicole Marchesi, one of Napa’s most acclaimed winemakers.

Region and Vineyards:

Far Niente’s vineyards are situated in Oakville, one of Napa Valley’s premier appellations, known for producing world-class Cabernet Sauvignon. The Martin Stelling Vineyard, located in the western Oakville bench, is the cornerstone of Far Niente’s Cabernet program. This vineyard is famous for producing structured, balanced, and age-worthy Cabernets, thanks to its gravelly loam soils and perfect microclimate.

For Chardonnay, Far Niente sources grapes from Coombsville, a cool-climate region in Napa Valley. The Coombsville vineyards are known for their volcanic ash and gravelly soils, which impart minerality and freshness to the wines. The cool fog influence from nearby San Pablo Bay ensures slow ripening, allowing the Chardonnay grapes to develop complexity while maintaining vibrant acidity.

Wine Range:

Far Niente produces a range of finely crafted wines, focusing exclusively on Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay:

• Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon: Rich and elegant, with deep fruit flavors and long aging potential.
• Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon: A wine that showcases the unique terroir of Oakville with a balance of power and finesse.
• Benson Vale Cabernet Sauvignon: A single-vineyard expression, highlighting the best of the estate’s vineyard holdings.
• Napa Valley Chardonnay: Known for its crisp acidity and bright fruit, with a creamy texture from oak aging.
• Coombsville Chardonnay: Expresses the minerality and complexity of the Coombsville terroir, with notes of citrus, stone fruit, and a lingering finish.

Far Niente Wine Estates:

In addition to the flagship Far Niente Winery, the Far Niente Wine Estates family includes several prestigious wineries, each specializing in different grape varieties and styles:

• Nickel & Nickel: Established to craft single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon wines, Nickel & Nickel focuses on showcasing the unique character of individual Napa Valley vineyards. Each wine is an expression of its specific site, with a focus on purity of fruit and terroir-driven character.

• Bella Union: Located in Rutherford, Bella Union specializes in Cabernet blends, creating harmonious wines that bring together different vineyard sites and varieties. The wines are approachable in their youth, yet age-worthy, reflecting the classic structure of Napa Valley Cabernet.

• Post & Beam: Inspired by the simple, rustic beauty of America’s post-and-beam barns, Post & Beam is dedicated to crafting classic and timeless wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. These wines emphasize elegance, drinkability, and the pure expression of their varietals.

• EnRoute: A winery located in the Russian River Valley, EnRoute focuses on producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. With a commitment to precision winemaking and vineyard management, EnRoute crafts wines that express the unique characteristics of this cool-climate region, known for its fog-laden mornings and ideal growing conditions for Pinot Noir.

• Dolce: Known as America’s leading late-harvest dessert wine, Dolce produces a rare and luxurious Botrytised Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blend. Often compared to the great sweet wines of Sauternes, Dolce is a highly regarded wine with flavors of honey, apricot, and tropical fruits, balanced by refreshing acidity.

Did you know?

The original Far Niente estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, highlighting its significance in the history of Napa Valley winemaking. Additionally, Far Niente is a leader in sustainable farming practices, including solar energy and water conservation, making it a pioneer in environmental stewardship in the wine industry.