Nose
The 2014 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon opens with beautifully lifted spice and black fruit aromatics—clove, anise, black cherry and blackberry—layered with a hint of rich oak.
Palate
A round, supple entry leads to a silky, smooth midpalate. Cassis, clove, and toasted oak complement the black and red fruit flavors. Fine-grained, age-worthy tannins provide structure to the dark, juicy finish.
Growing Conditions
The Martin Stelling Vineyard, located behind the winery in Oakville, is the cornerstone of Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon. Planted on some of the most beautiful, gravelly loam soil in the Napa Valley, the vineyard uniformly produces wines with supple tannins, bright, forward fruit, and beautiful tannin structure.
The 2014 growing season marked our third year in a row with drought conditions. Although December and January were dry, late rains in February through early April helped fill our reservoirs. A warm and windy spring brought early budbreak to the vineyards with fruit development tracking two weeks ahead of normal. The summer months were warm, leading to balanced growth in the vineyard. Temperatures cooled slightly at the end of August just as a 6.0 earthquake hit Napa. Fortunately, the winery—and the vines weathered the quake without any damage. September brought ideal weather with cool nights and warm afternoons.
Harvest
We slowly started picking our Oakville Cabernet at the end of the month, but a short heat wave in early October pushed everything into ripeness. We picked up the pace, and by mid-month we had the fruit crushed and in the tank.
Aging
17 months in French oak 72% new, 28% once-used.
Food Pairing
Braised Beef Short Rib.
