Far Niente - Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (750ml)
Price: $249.99
Producer | Far Niente |
Country | United States |
Region | California |
Subregion | Oakville |
Varietal | Cabernet Sauvignon |
Vintage | 2012 |
Sku | 6006 |
Far Niente Description
Far Niente Winery was established in Napa Valley, California, in 1885 by John Benson. It is a producer of premium Cabernet Sauvignon and one of the most storied California wineries.
Benson was the uncle of American impressionist painter Winslow Homer and a "forty-niner" – he travelled to California in 1849 during the California Gold Rush that saw a huge influx of people into the region. Benson bought land in Oakville and had a gravity-flow winery built and vineyards planted. The estate was profitable until Prohibition (1920-1933) caused the winery to be abandoned.
In 1979 Gil Nickel bought the winery and adjacent vineyards and began to refurbish them. The Benson name was kept until the words "far niente" were found inscribed in stone at the front of the winery – part of the Italian expression il dolce far niente or 'without a care'. A red wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon and a white wine made from Chardonnay are the only wines produced, and the first vintages (1979, ’80, ’81) were vinified offsite until the restoration was completed in 1982.
The winery is now on the National Register for Historic Places. In 1998 a bottle of Far Niente Sweet Muscat from 1886 was discovered in a private California cellar. The bottle looks to be the oldest intact bottle of Californian wine, and the label is believed to have been illustrated by Winslow Homer.
There are several vineyards in the Oakville appellation that provide grapes for the Far Niente wines. The Martin Stelling vineyard provides fruit for the Cabernet Sauvignon, and bounds Heitz Cellar's famous Martha's Vineyard, as well as Harlan Estate. Fruit for the Chardonnay comes from several vineyards in Coombsville, a cooler area just east of Napa town.
In 1989, Gil Nickel founded Dolce, a California winery focused entirely on dessert wines blended from botrytized Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, in a Sauternes style. Several other sister wineries have since come into being including Nickel & Nickel, Enroute, Bella Union and, most recently, Post & Beam Winery.
Wine Enthusiast: 94 Points
Gentle on the front palate, this gorgeously rendered Cabernet Sauvignon, with smatterings of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, develops weight and body as it goes, while retaining classic restraint. Cherry and cassis counterpoise layers of toasty oak, cedar and silky tannins, finishing balanced.
Wine Advocate: 94 Points
A great effort from Far Niente in this truly magnificent vintage, with its similarities to 2002, the Far Niente 2012 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon has a dense purple color, plenty of structure and aging potential, and an impressive inner core of sweet crème de cassis fruit, licorice and background vanilla. This wine is still very much an infant in its evolution, and should keep for 20-30 years. Many 2012s are excessively generous, open-knit and fleshy, but this is holding a lot back. And wow, it is 'locked and loaded.' I wouldn’t be surprised to see this wine increase in score in about 5-10 years, and actually merit an even higher score. Bravo!
Vinous: 93 Points
Far Niente's 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon is gorgeous. Layers of dark, mocha and spice-infused fruit meld together as this sumptuous, resonant Cabernet Sauvignon shows off its volume and breadth. Underlying beams of tannin give the 2012 its length and attractive sense of drive to balance the generous fruit. The 2012 could use another year or two in barrel, but it is already quite striking. There is a lot going on in this complex, highly nuanced Cabernet Sauvignon.
James Suckling: 92 Points
Fruit-forward style of Napa Cabernet with lots of dried fruits such as prunes and raisins. Full body, round tannins and a fresh finish. It remains fruity and clean.
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