Far Niente Winery, Napa Valley: Wine Styles, 10 Best Bottles to Buy (2024)

The iconic Far Niente winery in Napa Valley is renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines. 

These wines are the result of sophisticated winemaking techniques and the purest expression of the region’s excellent terroir.

Why are these Napa Valley wines so highly coveted?

In this article, we will explore Far Niente, its wine styles, the 10 best bottles to buy in 2024, serving tips, winemaking, and a bit of its history.

Far Niente Wine Styles And Tasting Notes

Here are their various wine styles:

A. Cabernet Sauvignon 

Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon wines are made from grapes sourced from all over Napa Valley wine country, including Rutherford, Stags Leap, Calistoga, Oak Knoll, and St. Helena.

These iconic Cabernet Sauvignon wines also contain small quantities of Petit Verdot and Malbec. 

These Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines come in two styles:

• Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon: It offers blackberry and coffee aromas with black fruit flavors, youthful tannin textures, and a velvety finish.
• Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet Sauvignon: It presents an elegant perfume of berries and dried herb with toasted oak flavors, fine tannins, and a long finish.

B. Chardonnay

Far Niente Chardonnay is made from grapes from the Coombsville vineyard plots.

Far Niente Napa Valley Chardonnay wines come in two styles:

• Far Niente Estate Bottled Chardonnay: It displays vibrant fruit and floral aromas with cool minerality, crisp acidity, and a graceful finish.
• Far Niente Cave Collection Chardonnay: It offers tropical fruits with great structure, floral and spice notes, and a long bright finish.

C. Wines From The Far Niente Family Wineries

The Far Niente family includes several sister wineries that also produce exquisite wine. These wineries include:

• Nickel & Nickel: ThisFar Niente’s sister winery produces 100% varietal and single vineyard wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, and Pinot Noir.The grapes are sourced from Carneros and Oakville in Napa and Russian River Valley in Sonoma Coast.
• EnRoute: Located in the Russian River Valley, EnRoute produces graceful and textured Pinot Noir wines.
• Dolce: The Dolce Far Niente winery in Oakville is dedicated to producing a late harvest wine made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon grape varieties.
• Post & Beam: This Far Niente’s sister winery is located in Oakville. It also produces noble and pure Cabernet and Chardonnay wines.
• Bella Union: Located near Bella Oaks lane in Rutherford, the Bella Union winery exclusively produces artful blends of Cabernet Sauvignon.

Let’s take a look at the best Far Niente wines.

10 Outstanding Far Niente Wines To Buy In 2024

Here are 10 Far Niente wines you should buy now:

• 1983 Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1983 Far Niente Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2011 Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2001 Far Niente Winery Estate Chardonnay
• 2006 Far Niente Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2016 Far Niente Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2018 Far Niente Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon
• 2018 Far Niente Winery Cave Collection Chardonnay
• 2013 Far Niente Winery Estate Chardonnay
• 2019 Far Niente Winery Estate Chardonnay

1. 1983 Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, USA ($1,969)

This 1983 vintage Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon has characteristics of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc - the parent vines of Cabernet Sauvignon.

It is full-bodied, showcasing berry, mineral, and toasted oak aromas with good tannin textures and a silky finish.

2. 1983 Far Niente Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, USA ($649)

The 1983 Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon displays dark fruit, dried herb, and leather notes. The wine is tannic with berry flavor and a long finish.

3. 2011 Far Niente Cave Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, USA ($449)

The elegant 2011 Far Niente Cabernet has tobacco leaf, dark cherry, and floral aromas with a silky palate of earthy flavor and fine tannins.

4. 2001 Far Niente Winery Estate Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($337)

The 2001 Far Niente Chardonnay has an intense bouquet of ripe fruit and spicy oak. It presents melon, fig, and oak flavors with mineral notes on the finish.

5. 2006 Far Niente Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, USA ($262)

This Napa Valley Cabernet delivers complex black currant, cassis, dark chocolate, cedar, and spice notes. It showcases bright acidity and an underlying minerality.

6. 2016 Far Niente Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, USA ($224)

The 2016 Estate Bottled vintage is blended with 3% Petit Verdot.

It offers hints of red fruit, graphite, anise, and toasted oak with a succulent mouthfeel, great balance, and lush textures.

7. 2018 Far Niente Estate Bottled Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, USA ($134)

This majestic Napa Valley Cabernet is blended with Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec grapes.

It displays an elegant perfume of berries, baking spice, thyme, and lavender. It presents youthful tannin textures with rich red fruit, spicy oak, and dried herb flavors on the palate.

8. 2018 Far Niente Winery Cave Collection Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($80)

The beautiful 2018 vintage Chardonnay presents a complex nose of honeysuckle, melon, white fig, and toasted hazelnut. The wine has a silky palate with citrus and vanilla flavors.

9. 2013 Far Niente Winery Estate Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($75)

This 2013 Napa Valley Chardonnay showcases a complex perfume of white peach, melon, honeysuckle, and toasted oak. It is juicy with a lush citrus flavor and delicate minerality.

10. 2019 Far Niente Winery Estate Chardonnay, Napa Valley, USA ($64)

The 2019 Winery Estate Chardonnay has seductive peach blossom, vanilla, and rich fruit aromas with toasted oak flavor and a refined mineral finish.

How To Serve Far Niente Wines

Serve Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon wines at 59°F-68°F (15°C-20°C) in Bordeaux glasses.

You can pair this fine wine with beef, lamb, venison, and poultry dishes. It also goes splendidly with mature and hard cheese. These Napa whites pair well with pork, poultry, fish like Salmon and Tuna, and light vegetarian dishes. They also go well with aged cheese. 

Far Niente Chardonnay wines should be served at 48°F-60°F (9°C-15°C) in traditional white wine glasses.

Far Niente Viticulture And Winemaking

The Far Niente estate has achieved the Napa Green Winery Certification. It consists of over 300 acres of vineyard land cultivated with precision and a deep respect for nature.

The estate utilizes solar energy, organic farming techniques, and sustainable practices (like reusing winery process water for irrigation) to minimize its environmental impact. 

To produce the brilliant Far Niente wines, winemaker Nicole Marchesi employs sophisticated and traditional vinification practices without the use of malolactic fermentation to capture the essence of the vintage and terroir. 

The wines are then gently aged in 100% French oak barrels stored in the magnificent Far Niente wine caves - the first of its type in Napa wine country.

Let’s take a look at the estate’s past as well.

Far Niente: The Story Behind The Estate

The original Far Niente winery, founded in Western Oakville by John Benson and designed by architect Hamden McIntyre, was shut in 1919 due to prohibition.

The winery was later revived in 1979 when Gil and Beth Nickel bought it with the adjacent vineyard. They aimed to recapture the essence of ‘Il dolce far niente’ (the sweetness of doing nothing.)

Today, Far Niente is a benchmark for fine California wine. Its Napa Valley Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon wines are recognized for their excellent quality.

The winery also offers some amazing wine tasting tours.

Fun Fact: The 1886 Far Niente Sweet Muscat is the oldest intact California wine discovered in Marin County. The label includes a hammock with grape clusters designed by Benson’s nephew, Winslow Homer.

Add An Exquisite Far Niente Wine To Your Collection Now!

With over 40 years of winemaking tradition, Far Niente’s fame is well-deserved. A wine enthusiast can truly enjoy its wines in the spirit of ‘Il dolce far niente.’

Are you looking to add a Far Niente wine to your collection?

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